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Bradley G. Knudson's college years began at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD with a pre-Physical Therapy program. He completed with a Bachelors Degree in Science and Masters of Arts Degree in Teaching - Secondary Science and Special Education with emphasis on Deaf Education. Dr. Knudson's first professional assignment involved teaching deaf children at the Phoenix Day School for the Deaf. After completing a Masters in Educational Administration at California State University - Northridge, he returned to the Midwest holding several leadership positions in Sioux Falls, SD. These positions involved Alternative and Special Education Programs with the majority of the alternative students qualifying for special education services. During these years, he completed his terminal degree in education from the University of South Dakota. |
| Seven years ago, he relocated with his partner, Susan Parr, to the Phoenix Metropolitan area. Susan is the Assistant Director of Desert Valleys Regional Cooperative, a division of the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. The outreach efforts of the Cooperative work with school districts in Maricopa County serving children who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind and visually impaired. Currently, Dr. Knudson serves as administrator for STAR Academy/Avondale Elementary School District, an alternative program for students with disruptive behavior. He enjoys his online faculty role with Grand Canyon University which began in the fall of 2009 and serves as a weekly volunteer with the First Tee of Phoenix. How has facilitating online courses at GCU helped you find your purpose? It has always been professionally satisfying to help people grow to a point where they become confident, capable, and caring professionals. This is witnessed as students share their excitement and satisfaction on completing an assignment, a course, or that final course in the program. To be a part of supporting and encouraging students and expecting these accomplishments is wonderful. What is one effective teaching strategy you use in your online classes? Personal notes that clarify a specific element of an assignment or suggestion to make their work more complete have great influence. When a student applies the specific comments that are unique to their work, their subsequent work is strengthened. What is a GCU online student success story you can share? It is difficult to identify a specific success story but the circumstances that come to mind are when a student faces a personal or family health need. When this hits early in a class, it requires a higher level of regular communication between the student and instructor. Often an adjusted schedule for assignment submission allows the student to remain in class, get back on schedule, and successfully complete the class. |
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