Dalton State's Dr. Christy Price, center, works recently with student Brianna Ro, left, in one of the university's classroom. Price was named a U.S. Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation in a ceremony at the Washington Press Club in Washington, D.C.Students in one of Christy Price's classes may listen to a short lecture, use social media, work on a case study, role play and discuss an issue in small groups - all during one class period.
Price's varied teaching techniques are part of the reason the Dalton State College psychology professor was named a U.S. Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council of Advancement and Support of Education.
She has spent years researching and sharing the best ways to teach millennials -- students born in the 1980s and '90s.
"They don't have a problem with traditional methods like lecture, but they have a problem with lecture only," she said. "They're raised in the multimedia age, and they're asking for a variety of presentation methods."
Price was nominated for the national award months ago and found out she was one of four national winners a few weeks ago. But she couldn't tell anyone until Thursday's award ceremony at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
"This is an award for us at Dalton State in general, my colleagues and the faculty," she said. "Part of the reason I'm winning this is not just because I've been traveling the country and sharing about millennials, or that I'm using these innovative techniques in my own classroom, but that I'm also working to lead our faculty development. We've created this little mini-revolution in teaching and learning on our campus."
The U.S. Professor of the Year awards were created in 1981, and Price beat out about 300 nominees to win. She earned $5,000 and a trip to Washington for the ceremony.
Freshman social work student Melissa Clayton said Price deserves the award because she cares about her students.
"She makes sure that we understand," she said. "Her methods are unique because she relates to the class. She walks around the classroom, she talks to us individually, and she asks us about our lives and how our lives pertain to what we are studying."