Some of the recipients of Outstanding Teaching Awards have kindly shared their teaching experiences with us over the years.

Prof. Dr. Selva Demiralp – Economics – CASE Outstanding Teaching Award Recipient (2021-2022)

My approach to making the course engaging for students involves integrating real-world examples, enabling them to see immediate applications of the knowledge gained in class. I consistently draw connections to current events, ensuring the content feels relevant and timely. At the beginning of each chapter, I contextualize its importance within the course’s broader structure, helping students grasp the purpose behind what they’re learning.

Even when tackling chapters that are more technical and might seem dull, I energize the students by illustrating the future practical use of this information, especially in understanding more intuitive concepts in subsequent chapters. I often frame questions as scenarios they might encounter, such as during a job interview, a query from their boss, or a discussion about the economy with their parents. Providing the answers, I encourage them to take notes, playfully suggesting they’re receiving insider tips. This has become a humorous aspect of our class culture, but it also appears to enhance their interest and retention of the material.

Dr. Eşref Ünsal – Computer Engineering – CE Outstanding Teaching Award Recipient (2021-2022)

Please find some of the matters that worked for me in the 3 courses I have been teaching:

• Urging the students to comment/discuss the subject at hand and put forward what they think (no discouraging of wrong or unusual answers). The course turns into a discussion session such as the ones in the MBA programs of Harvard.

• Highlighting the importance of active participation and commenting as a preparation for the business meetings to come. The casual discussion media improves the public speaking and capability to comment freely in front of others, which is a big gain for industrial/commercial platforms with company employees and the third parties in the days to come.

• Having name cards/plates for the students, placed in front of them in class (enhances remembering the names of the students and allows the students to address each other)

• Bringing forward cases/news from the recent topics, news articles from international commercial press, besides classical case examples and anecdotes.

Assoc. Prof. Murat Sözer – College of Engineering, Koç University Outstanding Teaching Award, 2012 (Handouts | Video)

Prof. Burak Özbağcı – College of Science, Koç University Outstanding Teaching Award, 2013 (Handouts)

Assoc. Prof. Murat Usman – College of Administrative Sciences and Economics, Koç University Outstanding Teaching Award, 2014 (Handouts)

Adj. Prof. Cüneyt Demirgüreş – Graduate School of Business, Koç University Outstanding Teaching Award, 2015 (Handouts)

Assist. Prof. Alper Uzun – College of Engineering, CE Outstanding Teaching Award, 2016 (Handouts | Video)

Assoc. Prof. Yonca Köksal – College of Social Sciences and Humanities, CSSH Outstanding Teaching Award, 2012 (Video)

Foreign Languages Coordinator, Figen Ecer – College of Social Sciences and Humanities, CSSH Outstanding Teaching Award, 2013 (Video)

Assist. Prof. Özlem Olgu – College of Administrative Sciences and Economics, CASE Outstanding Teaching Award, 2014 (Video)

Assist. Prof. Tilbe Göksun – College of Social Sciences and Humanities, CSSH Outstanding Teaching Award, 2015 (Video)

Prof. Tekin Dereli – College of Science, CS Outstanding Teaching Award, 2016 (Video)