KENNESAW, Ga. | Mar 5, 2020

David Glassmeyer recognized as a leader in online teaching and learning

Kennesaw State University mathematics education associate professor David Glassmeyer has been honored with a 2020 Felton Jenkins Jr. Hall of Fame Faculty Award from the University System of Georgia, recognizing his commitment to providing innovative and accessible coursework online.

One of six Hall of Fame honorees statewide, Glassmeyer received the 2020 Regents’ Excellence for Online Teaching Award at the recent USG Foundation Gala. The award lauded Glassmeyer as “a noted scholar in the field of online learning” who is dedicated to student success and equity by making college classes available online, particularly to teachers in rural areas.

“It’s definitely an honor, and it also highlights our graduate programs in the Bagwell College of Education on a state level,” said Glassmeyer, who has taught at KSU since 2013. “People in our profession often talk about making education accessible and affordable, but what does that actually look like? What we’re doing here is impacting students across Georgia and beyond, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Online classes fit well into the schedules of Glassmeyer’s students, who are working mathematics teachers in secondary and middle-grade education. In nominating Glassmeyer for the award, colleagues in the Bagwell College of Education and former students commended his interactive and inclusive method to teaching online.

For example, Glassmeyer and his students are all online at the same time, using headphones and microphones to interact in a collaborative session. He often divides the students into small groups to work on a mathematical problem and then brings them back together for a group discussion. Based on his observations throughout that process, Glassmeyer specifically chooses the order in which each group makes their presentation, which builds the mathematical conversation and moves the whole group forward in their thought process.

“I don’t know how I would teach math with taking that synchronous approach,” Glassmeyer said. “I’m working with teachers on utilizing research-based practices – such as collaborative learning, active learning and incorporating student voice – and if I’m not incorporating those practices into my instruction, how can I expect them to do the same?”

Wendy Sanchez, interim chair of KSU’s Department of Secondary and Middle Grades Education, observed Glassmeyer’s classes and said she was “amazed at how he translated his strengths in teaching face-to-face into an online environment.” She credited him with creating an online environment in which students feel comfortable, challenged and supported.

“Many teachers are not able to create such an environment in face-to-face courses, let alone in online courses,” Sanchez said. “Not only is Dr. Glassmeyer teaching students mathematics, but he also is having them learn in ways commensurate with how we want them to teach mathematics to students in grades 6-12.”

Local and Global Impact

While Glassmeyer’s focus is on Georgia educators, particularly those in rural areas, his influence is felt far and wide. Written recommendations for Glassmeyer to receive the USG award came from former students not only in metro Atlanta, but also from places such as Boston, Germany and Malaysia.

Tori McClanahan earned her Master of Education in Middle Grades Education from Kennesaw State while working at a school in China. McClanahan, now an eighth-grade math teacher at the International School of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, said “it would have been impossible for me to earn my degree while living abroad” without KSU’s strong online program and Glassmeyer’s support.

“Between work and travel, I completed assignments for my M.Ed. from seven different countries,” McClanahan said. “Dr. Glassmeyer was a steadfast supporter of my progress throughout the program and used the tools of online learning to respond to these unique circumstances. For example, the time difference between Beijing and Kennesaw meant that some of our sessions occurred while I was teaching, but I could still follow the course as all of the sessions were recorded.”

Closer to home, Woodstock High School assistant principal Joel Roth explained that taking online courses from Kennesaw State gave him the flexibility to attend to his job and family while maintaining a high level of academic rigor. He praised Glassmeyer for “challenging me at every step while giving me the confidence to face those challenges.”

Roth and Glassmeyer teamed up to publish an article in the Journal of Mathematics Education Leadership, one of several articles and book chapters Glassmeyer has had published. They presented their work at conferences of the Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

“He cared about me as a student and truly wanted me to succeed,” Roth said. “Dr. Glassmeyer is a top-notch instructor, mathematician, researcher and professional. However, it is the personal touch and the positive relationship he established that set him apart.”

– Paul Floeckher

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.