[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 133 (Thursday, November 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2066]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CONGRATULATING PROFESSOR BRIAN COPPOLA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 2004

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and pay 
tribute to University of Michigan Professor Brian Coppola on his 
selection as the 2004 Michigan Professor of the Year. Professor Coppola 
was chosen for his dedication to teaching and commitment to his 
students.
  The Professors of the Year Award Program was created in 1981 to 
increase awareness of the importance of undergraduate instruction at 
all types of higher education institutions. The program rewards 
outstanding professors for their devotion to higher education. They 
seek excellence in their recipients not only in their involvement and 
interest in students, but also in their contribution to the academic 
community. Professor Coppola demonstrates an incredible involvement 
with his students, as well as using his innovative teaching techniques 
to contribute to the university and the teaching profession as a whole.
  Professor Coppola contributes immeasurably to both the University of 
Michigan and to and to the field of teaching and learning through his 
commitment to students and teaching. In his classes he strives for a 
more involved role for students--instead of a traditional lecture 
format he encourages student-to-student learning--forcing students to 
understand and apply what they have heard and read. He has researched 
his innovative method of teaching, and has found that 80 percent of the 
students in his classes who have been critiquing their peers and 
thinking on their own develop analytical abilities comparable to second 
and third-year graduate students. This number is in contrast to 10 
percent of students in a traditional lecture course. Through his unique 
and involved focus on individual students, he challenges undergraduates 
to express ideas clearly and apply them to case studies, thus helping 
them to develop skills that will help them throughout their future 
careers.
  Professor Coppola has extended his ideas to the academic community as 
a whole. He has published 83 articles on teaching and learning, making 
his findings available to colleagues across the country. He supplements 
his written findings with numerous lectures, both as an invited speaker 
and by organizing his own education symposia. In addition to his 
impressive publication record, he has been involved with 38 
successfully funded external grants related to teaching that total over 
$8.5 million. These grants have allowed him to continue building on his 
research while teaching various undergraduate courses, ranging from 
large introduction classes to smaller, studio format, groups of 
students.
  Professor Coppola is highly esteemed not only at the University of 
Michigan, but in the larger academic community. His work in the field 
of teaching and learning should be applauded. Mr. Speaker, I ask that 
all of my colleagues join me in congratulating Professor Coppola for 
his accomplishments and his dedication to the future of this great 
Nation.

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