After three decades of practicing medicine, David Kazdan, who has a PhD in biomedical engineering from 窪蹋勛圖厙 and is a musician, birder, cyclist, photographer and licensed pilot of manned airplanes and of drones, returned to 窪蹋勛圖厙 to teach a SAGES course based on his passion for amateur radio.
After three semesters of encouraging and helping students pursue virtually anything that interests them within and beyond the requirements of his course, Kazdan has received a 2017 Carl F. Wittke Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. He will be recognized along with other award winners during commencement ceremonies May 21.
Im really honored and proud, and theres one specific aspect that makes me happy: Ken Loparo (the Nord Professor and chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science) got to see one of his graduate students of yore do this, said Kazdan, now an adjunct assistant professor in the department. Hes one of the best chalkboard teachers Ive ever seen.
I have had excellent teachers here and elsewhere, so I know what good teaching is, he said.
Kazdans students have expressed similar regard. His first class unanimously graded him an excellent instructor.
The retired anesthesiologist and his student collaborators use amateur radio to frame his SAGES course, exploring distance communication and how it has shrunk the world.
A student who nominated him for the Wittke Award wrote that Kazdans infectious enthusiasmwhether teaching mundane federal regulations for amateur radio, the growth and spread of newspapers under Benjamin Franklins term as the countrys first postmaster, or censorship and obscenitymade the student want to go beyond the required material and learn as much as possible about the many peripheral topics that arise in class.
When students seek follow-up reading for questions and discussions in class, theyre often impressed by the list he offers from off the top of his head. And he takes notes on readings they offer.
As part of the course, all his students must earn an amateur radio license and use the radio on campus, run by the Case Amateur Radio Club. Kazdan, who earned his first license at age 11, is a club advisor and administers the licensing test to any student.
For his and all of their classes, Kazdan recommends students take on as many extracurricular opportunities as possible.
The curricular material is the accreditation requirement for the degree, but its going to be the application of that material to life that matters, Kazdan said. Extracurriculars, including research, are that application.
Kazdan has since been asked to teach a new electrical engineering course on issues of radio communicationanother class hes looking forward to on the subject.
The material, I enjoy, he said. I cant think of anything more fun than being around young people who are good at it and think about it and do it.
The Wittke Award, established in 1971 to honor the former faculty member, dean and vice president of Western Reserve University, is presented annually to two 窪蹋勛圖厙 faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in undergraduate teaching.
