Audra Price

Excellence in Teaching Spotlight by the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Virginia Tech

The Excellence in Teaching Spotlight, presented by the center to approximately nine Virginia Tech faculty members each academic year, recognizes a faculty member's effective, engaged, and dynamic approaches and achievements as an educator.

Among the goals of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning are advancing experiential learning at Virginia Tech and improving student learning through research-based instructional practices and student-centered design. Dr. Price highlights the importance of a student-driven, discussion-based pedagogical approach: “I try to empower my students to approach big, messy, complicated ideas with the confidence that they can speak intelligently about what makes those ideas big, messy, and complicated. If I can help students contextualize and parse difficult legal and policy questions, it’s my hope that they will feel ready to begin to work towards answering them for themselves. If I do my job well, I offer them oars, but they row the boat.”

Dr. Price uses a modified version of the Socratic method to engage her students in lively conversations about course readings: “I refer to it as an ‘on point’ system, and I use it in classes of all sizes and formats. For each class, I designate 10 or so students that are responsible for facilitating the class dialogue for that day. It requires them to delve deeper into the readings than they might otherwise be inclined to do and allows all students to take turns leading the conversation. It also avoids (some) of the anxiety and awkwardness of cold-calling. I find that--most of the time--the system keeps students engaged in the readings, helps quieter students build confidence presenting and defending their ideas, and gets students to appreciate how much we can learn from just talking seriously and in-depth about things.”

Anne Deegan, a former student of Dr. Price, acknowledged Dr. Price’s dedication to teaching excellence: “Dr. Price’s teaching is so valuable. She has a special way of turning complex concepts into memorable ideas and examples. Her teaching is structured, organized, and thoughtful. Each class, I was amazed by how much new knowledge I had gained. And because of her dedication and enthusiasm, I realized just how much knowledge there was left to learn. It is so apparent just how much effort Dr. Price puts into each class and each student, and this effort is always noticed and appreciated by students. I am so thankful and honored to have learned under Dr. Price. I will always respect what she has to offer as a teacher and who she is as a person.”

Another of Dr. Price’s former students, Gianna Doering, commented on the significant impact Dr. Price had on her as a student: "Dr. Price is brilliant, and incredibly talented at relaying her curriculum in a way that is both accessible and relevant to her students through current events, through court cases, and legislation. She is able to navigate divisive issues with grace and provide space for students to understand and manifest their understanding of the material. I will always be grateful for Dr. Price’s guidance, and I am sure many students feel the same, as she provides avenues for learning that encourage debate, critical thinking, and a true hands-on approach to the material. Her excellence in the classroom is only mirrored in her unwavering support of students outside lecture--with her office hours being a place where I personally sought support to speak with her about not only the homework but also future career paths. She connects with students and cares for them deeply, as Dr. Price was also a great support for the Women in Cybersecurity organization at Virginia Tech, and she became someone who I continue to look up to."

Professor Price provided the following advice for new college teachers: “Learn your students' names. All of them. Even if you teach large lecture classes. It outwardly demonstrates to students that you see them as individuals and helps to foster a mutual sense of respect.”