James E. Randall
In his fourteen years at the University of Saskatchewan, Jim Randall has distinguished himself as an outstanding teacher in a variety of ways.
In larger undergraduate classes Jim has been a top notch performer when it comes to lecturing. He is a well-organized teacher who sets out clear expectations for his students and then reaches those goals. He is an enthusiastic teacher; he teaches with gusto and inspires his students to move on to greater challenges. Jim’s teaching evaluations from students have always been excellent. Jim also likes to get to know the students in his large classes; he has even been known to take a picture of a large class so that he can get to know the students by name. Perhaps most important of all, Jim enjoys being a teacher. He not only imparts his knowledge to students but also gives them his sense of love and passion for the discipline. His enthusiasm is infectious and his students come away from his classes with a greater interest in, and respect for, geography.
Jim is an outstanding teacher in smaller classes as well. His approach is original, spontaneous and creative. He stimulates interaction and interesting challenges and he blends together knowledge of theory of the discipline with his own practical experiences. Jim has traveled all over the world and is able to enlighten his students with his vast store of hands-on geographical experience. His seminar classes are challenging. The students are expected not just to absorb knowledge but also to take it a step further, in writings and presentations, and to put their own energy and input into their work. Jim has a number of graduate students and they speak highly of Jim’s ability to impart theory, knowledge and concepts while at the same time maintaining a sound grounding in reality.
When it comes to teaching Dr.Jim Randall has also distinguished himself in another important manner. Jim has been, for several years, the enthusiastic leader of the field class in human geography. The students and instructor usually travel to Kananaskis (Alberta). Jim gives up a week of his vacation time so that he can lead students on these expeditions. The students are taught, first hand, about the realities of working in the field and of the difficulties of collecting data and the problems of carrying out surveys.
They become ‘immersed’ as real world geographers. Jim volunteered to take on this class and, in so doing, took his enthusiasm and energy into the field with the students.
Dr.Jim Randall is truly an outstanding Teacher and we are pleased to honour him.
| 