Brian Manzullo

Geography professor Michael Libbee was surprised when he heard he received the Distinguished Mentor Award.

“Normally, this award is given to faculty mentoring in graduate and Ph.D programs,” Libbee said. “I mentor teacher consultants within the Michigan Geographic Alliance.”

The National Council for Geographic Education this year awarded Mark Francek and Libbee from Central Michigan University’s geography department for their innovative teaching and mentoring methods.

Libbee was recognized for his mentoring techniques in geographical education.

As co-coordinator of the Michigan Geographic Alliance, a network of teachers and geographers who aim to improve education by providing resources and in-service workshops, Libbee has received various awards, but this is his first mentoring award.

Libbee said he splits his time between one to two undergraduate social studies and geography courses a semester and teaches workshops with the Michigan Geographical Alliance.

“I teach education students throughout the university with a concentration in either social studies or geography on both content and how to teach it,” Libbee said. “I teach students how to teach.”

Teacher consultant mentors provide teacher consultants with training and resources.

Michigan Geographic Alliance runs like a small business, Libbee said.

“I give support to teacher consultants by giving them resources to work with other teachers, provide money to do a range of things,” Libbee said. “It has been some of the business ethics that have providing the opportunity to the teacher consultants to go to national meetings and international trips.”

Francek, a geology professor and member of the Michigan Geographic Alliance, received the Distinguished Teacher Award.

“I have been a physical geography educator for 20 years, and it has been my endeavor to provide a warm collaborative atmosphere,” he said.

Podcasts have been provided as additional study material in Francek’s class.

“Knowing how students are influenced these days is important,” he said. “As well as keeping up with technology as a way of reaching across and making learning the material relevant to students’ lives is important.”

Learning does not keep his class contained, often leading outside the regular classroom environment, he said.

“The things I have to teach aren’t in the classroom,” Francek said. “I make it a point to go outside visiting places like Mission Creek Woodland Park, Meridian County Park and the cemetery.”

Learning outside the classroom caters to different students’ learning needs, he said.

“Not all students learn the same way – some are visual, group- or music-learners,” Francek said. “I frequently switch methods throughout a class period.”

Classroom participation and knowing each student is important in Francek’s teaching.

Inside the classroom Francek, uses various methods to keep lessons interactive.

“I use demonstrations, music, video clips and even edible science,” Francek said. “Students design demonstrations on earth science concepts as well as looking at Hollywood films for signs of misconception.”

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E-mail the author: Amanda Friedt