Art education professor Robert Arnold is receiving the outstanding teacher award today.

When Arnold came to Ohio State to teach art education in 1970, he only intended to stay at OSU for a few years. Little did he know his two-year plan would extend to more than 30 years.

“I only expected to stay for one or two years, but I haven’t left yet,” Arnold said.

Some people who are glad Arnold never left are the students he teaches. Students say Arnold makes learning fun.

“He gives us the history and the information that we need to know, but also lets us experience the material,” said Aaron Levenson, a third year Industrial Systems Engineering student in Arnold’s Art Education 160 class.

One example when students experienced the material Arnold used was when he taught the students about Bob Dylan. Instead of just reading about Dylan and the impact of his music on society, students listened to his music in class.

“He gave us the important lyrics of the songs before we heard them, because Bob Dylan is kind of hard to understand,” Levenson said. “It was just a fun lecture.”

Arnold said the class is not only about talking.

“It’s important to show musicians making music,” he said.

Arnold said it is important to keep in touch with the students. Just recently, the students introduced him to Eminem, he said. Once Arnold realized the popularity of the young rapper with the students, he began using some of Eminem’s songs in his class.

Arnold received his doctorate from Indiana University, his master’s from Florida State University and his bachelor’s from New York State College at Buffalo. All of his degrees were in art education.

Arnold said he goes back to New York at least two times a year to keep up with what is happening in the art world there.

It is important to keep fresh and to get help from students in doing that, he said.

“It’s really easy to teach what I teach,” he said. “I just try to teach in a way that students will understand and will also grasp.”

Arnold feels honored to have received the award.

“Day-in and day-out, you go to work and you wonder, ‘Do my students understand? Am I doing a good job?’ It makes you feel good. It’s exciting that students would honor you for what you do,” Arnold said.

The outstanding teacher award is the first of its kind Arnold has ever received, he said.

“It means the world to me,” Arnold said. “It’s the best thing that could possibly happen to a professor.”

Arnold will receive the award at 4 p.m. today at the honor’s reception at the Faculty Club.