Classes can be frustrating when the course material seems like it comes from another planet, but frustration can stem from the fact that students learn in different ways and through different techniques, and no one understands that more than Professor Gregory Washington.
An associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Washington was one of 16 Ohio State educators to receive the Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching for his ability to communicate his knowledge to students in such a way that no student is left behind.
Present and former students and colleagues nominated Washington. One student wrote, “clone him,” on an evaluation form.
“He’s one of the reasons I’m here to do my grad work,” said Brian Bray, graduate assistant to Washington.
Washington attended North Carolina State University where he received his masters and doctorate degrees in the area of mechanical engineering.
He came to Ohio State seven years ago and has made a lasting impression on the students.
Washington started his career in mechanical engineering at a young age. In high school he was introduced to and fell in love with physics. He accredits his enjoyment of engineering and the visual aspects of the discipline to early intervention and a good physics teacher.
“The fact that I can make the mathematics visual is what I enjoy about mechanical engineering. I always knew I wanted to work in a lab and wear a lab coat also,” Washington said.
Although he does not spend much time in a lab coat, he enjoys catering to the many different types of students and their learning behaviors.
In the Alumni Magazine, a student wrote that Washington’s strongest asset is his ability to communicate knowledge in a manner that it is understandable to the everyday student.
Washington realized that students struggle in a course, not necessarily because they do not understand the material, but because they learn differently than the way they are being taught.
For example, some students are visual learners, while others learn best by taking notes and studying from a book.
Although he didn’t always want to be a teacher, Washington always enjoyed teaching.
“I was always tutoring students in college and even asked to teach a course during my doctoral work,” Washington said.
He learned a lot teaching a beginning undergraduate course and began to understand some key issues involved in teaching. He then took a course where the instructors laid out the structure of techniques needed in teaching and learning. The instructors had done research on the differences between how the faculty was teaching and how students were learning.
“That’s what really helps me to be more successful. I am mindful of the fact that students learn differently sometimes. I never focus on just one vein of teaching. In a given class I might be using six or seven different ways of presenting the info,” Washington said.
In any given class, Washington writes on the board, uses overheads, and brings in physical examples along with any variety of other teaching techniques.
Washington works to make sure that at some point in his class, he reaches each student in some way. From there, they can take their strongpoints and apply them to the other aspects of the course.
“He is a dynamic person,” said Amita Danak, a graduate assistant to Washington. “You want to pay attention and you are definitely awake in his classes,”
Krishnaswarny Srinivasan, professor and Chairperson of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, had the chance to sit in on a class that Washington was teaching. He said Washington puts himself in students shoes as he goes about preparing his lecture material and as he delivers them. He invites classroom participation and involves students in discussion.
“Greg epitomizes the combination of excellence in research and teaching that we seek in all our faculty,” Srinivasan said.
Washington said seven years ago, OSU was the best fit for him and his wife. He enjoys the students at OSU and says the engineering department is easy to work in.
“We have students who really want to learn and that makes the teaching aspect enjoyable,” said Washington.
Washington likes to attend conferences and visit facilities in the engineering industry and enjoys seeing his old students. It makes him feel good to hear that they remembered what he taught them and that they have used it.
He stresses relevance in his teaching and makes sure students understand why they are learning what he is teaching. It is important for Washington to teach so students don’t have a doubt in their minds that they will use the concepts that he teaches in their professional careers.
“He can take 10 different approaches to everything. He’s great at breaking down the complex,”said Bray.
Aside from teaching, Washington has had the opportunity to work with NASA on several small projects. Most of the work has involved creating new ideas and ways of doing things. He has done work with hybrid electric vehicles and ferroelectric materials.
He is an advisor to the National Society of Black Engineers and is active in his community church.
Washington loves to teach and pass on his knowledge to those who enter his classroom.
His message to students about their future and careers is “do what’s in your heart. If you do what is in you heart you are likely to be better at it.”
