Craig Martin, professor of biology, doesn’t allow video cameras in his classroom. He said it distracts his students. It’s not because Martin hasn’t had requests to film his lectures. He’s had plenty. And if he finally did let someone lug a video camera into his Budig 120 classroom, the camera might capture something that looks more like a rock concert than a Biology lecture.

“There’s always somebody that will say, I brought my mom because the lectures are so much fun,” Martin said. “I think there has to be an element of performance. Some professors hate that word.”

Martin, who taught at the University of Kansas since 1980, must be doing something right. In December 2007, for the second time since the 2001-2002 school year, the senior class advisory board awarded him with the HOPE Award. The award, which stands for Honor for an Outstanding Progressive Educator, is given to one professor each fall after a nomination and interview process. Martin shared the award this year with Edward McBride, lecturer in civil, environmental and architectural engineering.

“For professors, this is the only award selected by students, and it’s just the senior class,” Ryan Northup, Edmond, Okla., senior, and president of the senior advisory board said.

Kasey Bowden, Topeka junior, knew Martin since taking his class during the fall of her freshman year. In 2006, she was a teacher’s assistant in his Principles of Biology class, which has nearly 1,000 students.

“He’s so motivational, and he has such a passion and desire for teaching. More than any person I’ve ever met before,” Bowden said. “He helped me get through my first three years of college.”

She’s seen all of Martin’s unique teaching methods.

She’s heard the heavy metal music he plays before class.

“I’ve always been interested in music,” Martin said. “Always edgier stuff. Real angst ridden.”

She’s also been witness his daily demos: a practice where Martin pulls an object out of his small green daily demo knapsack and relates it to the lecture.

“The most random things you could imagine,” Bowden said.

Textbook Teaching

Martin has seen thousands of students come through his classroom.

“Whenever I go out to eat, I meet a waiter or waitress who had me in class,” he joked.

One of his favorite stories isn’t about his teaching methods, but about textbooks.

Martin said one year his class textbook cost $100.

“That’s a lot of money for a publisher when you have a class of 1,000,” Martin said.

So Martin called a rival textbook publisher and said he would switch to them if they would lower their price to $80. Once they agreed, Martin said he called the other publisher back and told them he would stay with them if they would drop their prices. Just like that, Martin continued to negotiate.

“I got the price down to 49 bucks, 49 bucks from 100. It was hilarious.” Martin has testified before a national committee on textbook prices. “Concern for students, after all, that’s why we’re here,” Martin said.

Cell Phones and Brain Cells

Martin doesn’t know how to use a cell phone. He’s never had a reason to have one.

“I don’t know how to answer this,” he said, as he tried to answer a call. “Oh, I think I’m on the web now.”

That changed one day in November. Martin said he went to his Principles of Biology class in the morning, just like usual. Later that day, at 5 p.m., Martin sat at his desk and felt something was wrong.

“What’s weird is that day I had lectured in my big class, about why cells would die when they don’t get oxygen,” Martin said. “Little did I know I would be sitting here at about 5 p.m. and a patch of my brain cells didn’t get oxygen and they died.”

Martin said he had a stroke and suffered temporary paralysis in his left side. He spent two months in the hospital undergoing testing and rehab.

“I remember sitting in the hospital bed one day wondering, how much brain damage am I going to have? Am I going to be permanently paralyzed? What about the intellectual part of my brain? That was the most horrific part, not knowing the damage.”

Martin, a son of a military man who never thought he would go into education, said he missed his first lecture in 30 years. The man who earned his undergraduate degree from University of California, Santa Barbara and his Ph.D from Duke University had to relearn how to walk and use his left arm.

“I remember sitting there thinking, I have lecture tomorrow,” Martin said.

Martin said his health is steadily improving, and the outpouring from students has impacted him greatly. Martin received more than 400 letters from students.

“The nurse and I stayed up one night sharing a box of Kleenex. They were so heartfelt.”

Martin is spending time in his office again, and now he has his second HOPE Award to hang next to his first one.

“I’ve been meaning to do that,” he said.

But when Martin starts teaching again, he still won’t allow cameras into his classroom.

He keeps the students focused.

“If I could get around that little hang up of mine, I’d want someone to come in to my lecture in my big class, the biology 100 class, and film me in action,” Martin said. “Because that kind of epitomizes all the work and the appreciation of students. The work I put into my teaching and the appreciation when you look into the audience and most of the students look like they’re engaged.”

­— Edited by Russell Davies