Campus News
Fiene Awarded Excellence in Teaching
4/20/16
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees today presented the Awards for Excellence, honors conferred to recognize professional achievement and excellence. Dr. Shannon Fiene, Minnesota West Community & Technical College Mathematics instructor is the recipient of the 2016 Board of Trustee Award for Excellence in Teaching.
View MnSCU's video of Shannon Fiene.
At an event held to present the awards, Steven Rosenstone, MnSCU chancellor said, “There’s a very good reason we’re here celebrating you today. It is you, our faculty, who make our colleges and universities great. When we talk about ensuring access to an extraordinary education for all Minnesotans, we’re really talking about access to you. When we talk about our quality academic programs, we’re really talking about the work you do, both inside and outside of the classroom. When we talk about preparing students for life and careers, we’re really talking about the education you provide. And when we talk about changing lives, you are the women and men who help our students create a better future for themselves, for their families, and for their communities.”
The Board of Trustees presented the Awards for Excellence in Teaching, which acknowledge and reward exceptional professional accomplishment in teaching. Evaluation criteria include teaching strategies and materials; content expertise and professional growth; assessment of student learning and performance; and service to students, the profession, the institution, and the system. This is the tenth year of the awards. The awards were presented to Dr. Justin Berry, Instructor in the Physical Therapy Assistant program at Northland Community and Technical College, William Breen, instructor of English at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Adam Marcotte, instructor of English at Central Lakes College, and Dr. Shannon Peak Fiene, instructor of Mathematics at Minnesota West Community and Technical College.
“Outstanding faculty at all our colleges and universities make it possible for us to provide an extraordinary education for all Minnesotans,” said Mike Vekich, chair of the Board of Trustees. “The programs our faculty deliver – academic programs, advising, financial aid, registration, residential life, and student affairs, just to name a few – are vital to our ability to serve students and communities in every corner of the state.”
Dr. Shannon Peak Fiene, instructor of Mathematics at Minnesota West Community and Technical College.
Caring and approachable, noted as a “remarkable teacher,” Dr. Shannon Peak Fiene’s motto, “tear down the walls,” speaks to her commitment to lowering the barriers that block learning for students, many of whom come to her classes very nervous about math. While keeping expectations high, Fiene lowers those barriers in part by making learning fun: using audio, video, active learning, and humor to reach even the most math-anxious students. One way she does this is through a word cloud activity at the start of a developmental math class: students are asked to submit two or three words that come to mind when they think about math. Fiene then generates a word cloud that she shares with students; the visual provides reassurance to students that they are not alone in their worries. The students do the activity again at the end of the course, and Fiene notes the growth as student reactions “transform from those of emotions and expressions of hesitation to ideas related to key mathematical concepts.”
Minnesota West Community & Technical College President, Dr. Terry Gaalswyk notes, “Dr. Fiene makes complex, theoretical applications simple not through simplicity but by creating connections – a true master of the art.”
Minnesota West Provost Dr. Jeff Williamson comments, “Dr. Shannon Fiene is an exceptional teacher, an exceptional community member, and an exceptional leader. She is a leader in innovative classroom delivery and at the forefront of technology to develop learning modes. “
“Dr. Shannon Fiene is deserving of this honor not only due to her content expertise, but because of her ability to convey that wisdom to our students. Dr. Fiene's talents and services to the College and system are multifaceted. Her gift provides a learning environment both challenging and enjoyable,” comments, Rebecca Weber, Dean of Canby and Granite Falls campuses.