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Mungo University Teaching Award: Lori Ziolkowski – UofSC News & Events

Earth Sciences teacher adapts teaching style to student needs



Lori Ziolkowski
Associate Professor , Undergraduate Director
School of Earth, Ocean and Environment
Ph.D. in Earth System Sciences, University of California Irvine, 2009
2021 Mungo Prize for Undergraduate Teaching
Joined the faculty from UofSC 2013

The teachers who gave me the freedom to learn MY way allowed me to excel as a student.

I really try to connect the content of my classes with the real world. This is especially important
in my large non-core classes. For example, in an introductory class on oceanography this
could mean connecting shark populations with COVID-19 vaccine production.

Part of my undergraduate teaching includes tutoring students in research. One summer I did a UofSC
undergraduate student to Alaska to collect samples of glaciers and permafrost. This fieldwork experience
inspired the student to do a doctorate. which involved many field seasons in Greenland
ice sheet. Despite having graduated from his PhD, this student regularly asks
me for mentoring advice. Knowing that I can still help you now is personally gratifying.

Teaching has taught me so many things. In general, I would say that teaching helped me to be more patient
and understanding person. Over the years, I have learned to make more space for what
students need. I also give my students credit for helping me become a more effective communicator,
who has been extremely helpful in communicating about climate change with an
off-campus audience.

When I started teaching I was often physically exhausted after class. While I no longer need
a nap after class, there are always new challenges, like teaching through a
pandemic. We were all shifting to understand the new normal, which made both teaching
and learning difficult.

The first semesters of teaching are difficult. If I could do it again, I would try not to take
too seriously. Students were more receptive to me when I was just myself. Teaching
is sometimes like throwing a party for reluctant guests.


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