Professor Meets with All 200 Students in Lecture Class

Michael Ranney, an associate professor who is teaching Introduction to Cognitive Science, met personally with all 200 students in his large, undergraduate lecture class. "I want to get more of an idea of what the individuals in the class are like, so they're not just a face in the crowd," he said. "That way I don't feel so much like a talking head, either."

Julie Hwang, a sophomore in the class who plans to major in Molecular and Cell Biology, reacted enthusiastically after her session with Professor Ranney: "It's a great idea. It's usually intimidating in a big lecture class. This encourages you to come to office hours."

Michael Ranney is also hoping the get-acquainted sessions will stimulate students to raise their hands and ask questions during the lectures. "Before they meet with me one-on-one," he said, "I ask them to come up with a 'stump Michael' question. One student said he didn't really have a question, and then asked me, 'What is consciousness about?'"

Professor Ranney seemed in good spirits when this reporter caught up with him after he had already met with over 150 students. The student he was meeting with asked how old his daughter was. Michael Ranney laughed and told a story about her trying out for a part in the school play. "At the price of 17 hours of intense meetings and losing my voice, I'm getting a more human connection with the individuals in the class," he said.

Michael Ranney meeting with Julie Hwang, a student from his "Introduction to Cognitive Science" course