Congratulations to Dr. Craig Kaplan, professor of Computer Science, and Dr. Henry Shum, associate professor of Applied Mathematics, who have both received this year’s Award for Distinction in Teaching. Up to two awards are given by the Faculty of Mathematics each year to teachers who have “consistently demonstrated outstanding pedagogical skills and a deep commitment to our students’ education.”
Craig Kaplan
Craig Kaplan has been at the University of ݮƵ since 2003. He was also an undergraduate student at ݮƵ in the 1990s, where he “had the pleasure of taking courses from a couple of the past winners of this award!”
“It makes me a little emotional,” Kaplan says of the award. “For decades I’ve poured a lot of time and energy into every aspect of teaching. It’s good to know that this work as gone into something important. I’m grateful for the recognition, but more importantly I’m happy to know that my efforts have had a positive impact on the lives of the students I’ve taught.”
Kaplan particularly enjoys giving lectures, and has spent years working to deliver lectures that are memorable, entertaining, and effective. “I often credit my lecturing style to a couple of years of improv comedy training as an undergraduate,” he says. “That helps you think on your feet, allowing you to communicate ideas without planning out every detail in advance.”
He also notes that effective teaching means being flexible in the moment and attempting different tactics until the listener understands. “You’ll be trying every possible angle to explain a concept or work through a problem, and suddenly something will click and the light bulb will turn on.” Kaplan recommends that his fellow teachers work on developing their own teaching styles and be willing to change or adapt if something isn’t working.
“Thanks to the members of the instructional Support Group in CS, and especially Barbara Daly; their robust management of large courses frees me to devote my time to creating a better experience for the students,” he says. “Thanks also to a long line of Associate Directors of Undergraduate Studies in CS, who have assigned me to courses that have been a pleasure to teach, and who have helped me avoid teaching at 8:30 for all these years! Finally, thanks to Steve Furino (LGRO) who, while dragging CS into the world of online teaching, provided us with the resources to do it right.”
Henry Shum
Henry Shum has been a professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics since 2017. “I’m delighted to receive this award when there are so many excellent instructors in the Math Faculty whose energy and skill I greatly admire,” he says. “It was a complete surprise.”
Shum particularly appreciates the calibre of undergraduate students in the Faculty of Mathematics. He enjoys mentoring students through undergraduate research and helping them prepare for graduate school, as well as classroom instruction. “One of the lessons that I’ve learned is that people can surprise you,” he says. “There are students who begin their undergraduate programs or courses with unimpressive academic records but later turn things around and show great dedication and ability.”
Shum says that he has learned to continually experiment with new tools, teaching methods, and assessment structures when teaching the same course more than once. It helps him understand which tools are more effective – and it makes things more interesting for him!
“I would most of all like to thank my students for their enthusiasm and engagement both in and out of class, asking questions at all hours and showing excitement at making breakthroughs with difficult concepts or problems,” he says. “Having keen students makes it much easier to enjoy teaching and deliver my best. I would also like to thank my colleagues from whom I have learned about teaching, and Dr. Hans De Sterck, the chair of my department, for his encouragement and support."