One way she gets students to make imaginative leaps is through volunteer service. Typically, she'll start the course exploring the students' opinions on an issue, then bring in theoretical tools or special assignments to explore the opinions deeper. Sometimes the students end up changing their opinions, but just as often they keep their opinions, but with a sharper, more focused concept of why they believe what they do, she said. I think I've thought through a problem completely, then someone comes up with something entirely different, and I'm taken aback. Rudy said she takes pride in winning the teaching award, but that the real reward is teaching itself.
Teaching is part of that.
I get to influence a whole population of students, and get to talk to them about issues I care about.