Faculty Spotlight | Dr. Ray Wu

Students Weigh in on Dr. Wu's Signature Pedagogies

Grounded in his passion for helping students grow and develop their skills, Dr. Ray Wu's teaching philosophy is ”that teaching is not just about conveying knowledge, but also about creating a sense of community and encouraging student participation. I strive to create an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and sharing their thoughts in a respectful manner." He believes that every assignment is practically useful and not just busywork, and he prioritizes his students by helping them develop “domain-specific knowledge, work ethic[s], and critical thinking skills” in addition to other essential, career-focused skills that can be applied in real-world scenarios. This spotlight highlights two major themes pulled from Dr. Wu’s student evaluations and Thank-a-Teacher notes: the students’ favorite assignment and favorite instructional practice. 

Students’ Favorite Assignment: The Resume
One of the courses that stands out in his teaching portfolio is his Organizational Communication course, where students learn to develop effective written and oral communication skills. Dr. Wu has a personalized approach to teaching this course that involves providing students with numerous practical assignments, instructional resources, and targeted feedback. One such assignment is Dr. Wu’s resume building project, which involves one-on-one feedback. Dr. Wu explains, “While most may think a resume as simply listing everything about themselves in a one-page document, it is not that simple. Students have to think of a resume as an impression management tool and to strategically highlight information that will make them stand out from the numerous applications competing for the same job.” Dr. Wu combines examples of resume excellence with step-by-step guides to help students polish their resumes drafts. However, prior to submitting the final draft, students must meet with Dr. Wu in a one-on-one meeting, in which he provides personalized feedback. 

Student feedback on the assignment and the one-on-one meetings has been overwhelmingly positive, with many students appreciating Dr. Wu's constructive feedback and personalized approach. “Instead of feeling like I was being lectured, [Dr. Wu’s] class felt more personal. I also appreciated that [Dr. Wu’s] feedback on our assignments, especially our resumes, made me feel as if I was learning and being prepared for the real world, which is something that I have not felt in any of my other classes at South.” This assignment not only guides students to develop valuable skills such as writing, presenting, and persuading, but also allows them to leave the class with a fully developed resume, prepared for the job market. One student even landed a finance internship at Airbus after incorporating Dr. Wu's feedback into his resume. 

Students’ Favorite Instructional Practice: The In-Class Discussion
Dr. Wu’s signature pedagogy is the in-class discussion. One student shared, “I liked that Dr. Wu would initiate in class discussions amongst students sitting around you, but by changing seats, students would be forced to interact with classmates that they may have never spoken to. Dr. Wu made instructions as well as his intentions for each assignment clear and was always available to answer any questions.” Others commented on the open class discussions: 

I like how Professor Wu made the class interact. We would have class discussions and class debates, and they were always interesting and fun. 

He showed constant enjoyment in the subject matter of every class day, and he gave everyone ample time to gather their thoughts about the current topic through group discussions, which worked incredibly well.

Dr. Wu's dedication to helping students grow and develop their skills has earned him a reputation as a respected, supportive, and approachable teacher. Reflecting on the student feedback and thank-you notes, Dr. Wu shares that seeing his positive impact on his students’ career and life provides him with a sense of meaning in his work. Thank you, Dr. Wu, for making an impact at South!

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