The IEEE Teaching Excellence Hub is dedicated to providing professional development resources for those teaching engineering, computing, and technology at the university level, and is always on the lookout for inspiring stories to share! In this spotlight, we highlight Carlotta Berry, who is a recent recipient of the IEEE Education Society’s Distinguished Lecturer Award!
Carlotta Berry is a professor and Dr. Lawrence J. Giacoletto Endowed Chair for Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT). She is one of a team of faculty who created the first multidisciplinary minor in robotics. She has two bachelor’s degrees in mathematics from Spelman College and electrical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. She has a master’s from Wayne State University and PhD from Vanderbilt University. Her research interests include robotics education,
human-robot interaction, and increasing marginalized and minoritized populations in STEM fields. Berry is a prolific speaker and author of the text, “Mobile Robotics for Multidisciplinary Study”. Berry is also the founder and co-director of the Rose Building Undergraduate Diversity (ROSE-BUD) Program and advisor for the National Society of Black Engineers. She was previously the President of the Technical Editor Board for the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) Computers in Education Journal, ASEE fellow and IEEE senior fellow.
“What piece of advice do you wish someone shared with you before you became an educator? OR What questions do you wish you had asked during your tenure track faculty interview?
Before becoming an educator, one piece of advice I wish someone had shared with me is to actively seek out mentors both inside and outside of my department. Having multiple mentors offers different perspectives and can help guide you through the complexities of academia, from teaching strategies to research and professional development. It’s also essential to build a support network that extends beyond your immediate academic circle.
Additionally, I wish I had requested a professional development day early on—dedicated time to focus on setting both short-term and long-term goals. In the early stages of a faculty career, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks and lose sight of larger objectives. By setting aside time to plan your research, writing, and service contributions, you can more effectively manage your workload and ensure a balanced, sustainable career.
What, if any, changes have you seen over the years in how students learn? OR Has your teaching style changed over the years, and if so, how?
Over the years, I’ve definitely seen changes in how students learn, with the pandemic having a major impact. During the pandemic, many students became accustomed to online learning, which brought both challenges and new ways of engaging with content. The shift to virtual classrooms highlighted the need for digital tools, but it also emphasized the importance of creating interactive and engaging environments, as students were often less focused when learning remotely.
Post-pandemic, another noticeable shift is that students seem to be less verbal in their communication. Face-to-face discussions and group activities, which used to be standard components of learning, have become less frequent or harder to facilitate as many students prefer to communicate in more passive or digital ways. This means that, as an educator, I have to be even more intentional about designing activities that encourage verbal interaction and active participation.
What is your favorite class to teach, and why?
My favorite class to teach is Mobile Robotics because it is flipped and project-based, which allows for a more interactive and hands-on learning experience. I designed the course with the intention of giving students a chance to engage with real-world applications of concepts like electronics, controls, mechanics, and software. The project-based nature of the course helps students understand how all these elements come together in a functional system, making learning feel more practical and relevant.
What is it that inspired you to become an educator?
I was inspired to become an educator because, as a little girl, I always wanted to be a high school math teacher. However, as I progressed in my education, I realized that there was a lack of representation in the field of engineering—especially among professors who looked like me, acted like me, or understood and valued the diverse perspectives that I, and others like me, could bring to the field. This gap in representation motivated me to pursue a career in engineering education. I knew it was crucial to not only contribute to the field as an engineer but also to be someone who could inspire and mentor students from diverse backgrounds.
What resources do you use to learn about new teaching strategies? What have you implemented that has been most effective for you?
Attending workshops, particularly those from organizations like ASEE (American Society for Engineering Education), NETI I & II (National Effective Teaching Institutes), and workshops from institutions like Bucknell, Vanderbilt, and Carnegie Mellon, is a fantastic way to stay up-to-date with the latest in engineering education and pedagogical research.
In the era of ChatGPT, how do you feel AI change the Education Landscape?
In the era of ChatGPT, I think AI has the potential to both enhance and challenge the education landscape. It’s crucial for both professors and students to understand the limitations of AI and how to use it responsibly. While ChatGPT and similar tools can be powerful aids for learning and problem-solving, it’s important to recognize when it is appropriate to rely on them and when it is not.
How do you feel IEEE can best serve advances in engineering education?
IEEE can best serve advances in engineering by continuing to interview engineering educators and share information about the latest advances with respect to engineering education.
How has winning this award impacted your career if any?
I think it provided further validation that I am on the right track as an engineering educator and inspired me to continue to move forward.
If you can share one thing about the future of Engineering, what would it be? And why?
I think it needs to be much more practical, hands own with real world applications to enable students to relate to the technical content they learn.
Thank you to Carlotta Berry for sharing her knowledge and experience with us! To learn more about Berry and her work, please visit the following link https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/02/opinion/sunday/they-call-me-doctor-berry.html
