Discovering Effective Thinking: Changing Students for Good
Dr. Michael P. Starbird, Distinguished Teaching Professor, Department of Mathematics, The University of Texas at Austin -- April 11, 2000
Dr. Michael Starbird is a University Distinguished Teaching Professor in Mathematics at The University of Texas at Austin, where he has taught since 1974 except for leaves at the Institute for Advanced Study, UC San Diego, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For eight years he served as Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs and Undergraduate Education in the College of Natural Sciences. Now his suits are getting dusty as he has returned to the Department of Mathematics full time.
Over the years he has received numerous teaching honors including: The Minnie Stevens Piper Professor (awarded to ten professors each year in the state of Texas) in 1984; the Natural Sciences Council Teaching Excellence Award (one of six) in April 1985; the Dad's Association Centennial Teaching Fellowship in Fall 1987; the Excellence Award, Eyes of Texas, Fall, 1987; the President's Associates Teaching Excellence Award in 1989; the Jean Holloway Award for Teaching Excellence in 1995; and the Chad Oliver Plan II Teaching Award in 1997. Dr. Starbird was also the Recreational Sports Super Racquets Champion of 1989.
With his collaborator Edward Burger, he has written a lively textbook for liberal arts and teacher preparation courses titled, The Heart Of Mathematics: An Invitation to Effective Thinking.