Two Radford University professors have co-written a chapter for a recently published international book on teaching excellence detailing their “radical” teaching experiences.

Donna Boyd, professor and head of anthropological sciences in the School of Environmental and Physical Science and co-director of the RU Forensic Science Institute, and Biology Professor Fred Singer worked together on “The Meaning and Evolution of Teaching Excellence: A ‘Radical’ Case Study from Radford University, Virginia” for the recently published “Inspiring Academics: Learning with the World’s Great University Teachers.”

The book draws on the experience and expertise of award-winning university teachers to illuminate exemplary teaching practice. In Boyd and Singer's case, they were involved in an experimental two-semester, 12-hour interdisciplinary ("radical") course in biology, English and anthropology titled "Science, Social Science, and the Humanities," which they taught collaboratively with retired Biology Professor Chuck Kugler and English Professor Rich Murphy in 1993.

Boyd was invited to contribute to “Inspiring Academics” as a result of being honored in 2006 as the U.S. Professor of the Year for master’s level universities and colleges by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and the Carnegie Foundation for Advancement of Teaching.

“Inspiring Academics” is structured around five core themes: inspiring learning, command of the field, assessment for independent learning, student development and scholarship.

Twenty-six distinguished scholars, including Boyd and Singer, from the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom contributed their expertise to the book.

“Inspiring Academics” is published by Open University Press and edited by Iain Hay.