|
|
|
 Just as there is a secret to breaking boards with your bare hands (without breaking any bones in your hands as well, that is), there is a secret to inspiring students to do their best. And Information Technology professor Dr. Kurt Diesch knows both. Both secrets in fact are the same: “Challenge.”
“Whether it’s a plastic board or ¾-inch wooden board at the martial arts gym or a class full of new students, you have to meet it head on. Challenge yourself and don’t be afraid to challenge others. The greater the challenge is, the higher you or a student will have to rise to meet it,” says Dr. Diesch.
So far, Dr. Diesch, a green belt who has been doing martial arts on and off since his years as an undergrad at Iowa State, hasn’t broken any bones yet. And he was voted (by fellow faculty) AIU Online’s 2004 “Super Rookie.” It seems his secret works.
Dr. Diesch has taught at both brick-and-mortar and online schools for nearly 10 years. During the same time, he has also worked as everything from a development manager to vice president of product development. He’s also been down in the programming trenches and developed several commercially successful products like NetAccelerator, TurboCAD, FormTool and WinDelete.
Not surprising given the depth of his own programming experience, Dr. Diesch’s favorite classes to teach are those involving programming. “Most students walk in with very few skills in the area and in five short weeks, they’re creating actual, useful applications. They invariably are excited at what this new knowledge will let them do at work. Seeing their excitement is exciting for me.”
Although Dr. Diesch certainly has the expertise to sit in front of a class (or computer) and lecture, he is adamant about facilitating rather than teaching. Especially when it comes to online students.
“Most online students come in with a broad skill set already and are very capable of learning. I am a tour guide. The first thing I do in every class is to get to know each student and their skills. In some classes, there will be students who don’t know anything and others who have been doing whatever the subject is for years. After that, that’s when the challenge part is. Whatever background a student is coming from, I make it my job to challenge each to the max of his or her potential.”
But don’t worry, he’s never yet asked a student to break a board.
|
|
|
 |
Most students walk in with very few skills in the area and in five short weeks, they’re creating actual, useful applications. They invariably are excited at what this new knowledge will let them do at work. Seeing their excitement is exciting for me.
—Dr. Kurt Diesch |
 |
|
|
|
 
Top Careers Kids Want to Pursue when They Grow Up
 Read More
|
Learn more about the 