Dr.
Steve Best
1990
and 1997 Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient
Mr.
Steve Best has been a member of the Charleston Southern
University faculty since 1973. His father was in the
military, so Mr. Best has called many places home, the
last place being Fayetteville, NC, where his father retired.
Mr. Best earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from
Clemson University, in the fields of biology and zoology.
He taught at Greenville Tech for two years before coming
to Charleston Southern (then Baptist College). He was
also a teaching assistant at Clemson while in graduate
school.
Mr.
Best decided to come to Charleston Southern because there
was a job opening and he already knew some people on campus.
Over the years he has found several techniques to be successful
in the classroom. The Biology Department was one of the
first to use full-course syllabi in the classroom, covering
everything to be taught in the semester. They also use
a good bit of audio-visual, including video lab tapes for
the students. The professors make a video tape of the labs,
and if the students want to borrow them to use as a review
for the test, they bring in a new tape exchange the two.
The student gets their tape back when they return the lab
tape. He has also found that making the labs high-impact
and participatory is another successful technique.
I'm
proof that lightning can strike twice in the same place,
since I've been awarded twice, he says. But Mr. Best doesn't
take any credit for himself. While he is concerned that
all students have a chance for success, it is the entire
Biology Department that makes up his teaching excellence.
Mr. Best feels all students love biology, but not all are
successful in the classroom. We give students a roadmap
for success. If they follow the guidelines, they will be
successful. But not all of them stay on track. He feels
that getting to know the students by their name is one
part of excellent teaching. And though appointments are
nice, they aren't necessary if a student needs to meet
with Mr. Best. The Biology Department is very accessible,
and the doors are always open.
Mr.
Best thinks that students find it interesting that he was
in the military for over twenty years. He retired as a
Lieutenant Colonel, and did extensive traveling while in
the service, which kept him up-to-date with national and
international affairs. He feels this diverse background
has helped in the classroom. While not directly related
to his work, Mr. Best loves the outdoors. He lives on the
water, has four boats, and enjoys camping, hunting, fishing,
hiking, and playing and watching sports. He also enjoys
remodeling, both inside and outside he has added a back
porch to his house and put down new floors and tile. I
like to think up a plan, sketch it, and then do it.
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