Steven brown

Lecturer, Entering Student Experience (ESE)

How Is Steven Engaging Students in the Classroom?

Steven’s journey to teaching started as a surprise when he thought he was signing up to be a tutor and found himself teaching a classroom as a student employee. This set the tone for his personal teaching style of being authentic, adaptive, and deeply student-centered.

Steven teaches UNIV 1301, which is a course designed to help students transition from high school to the college environment. This is where he encourages students to explore themes of identity, agency, belonging, and aspiration while learning the unspoken rules of navigating college life.
Steven embraces technology as a tool for his classroom rather than a distraction. Steven encourages students to use their devices for academic purposes—completing assignments, researching, and even collaborating.

What do students think?

Steven’s students feel seen, supported, and respected. Due to being able to use devices in the classroom, his students have greater accessibility, more engagement, and a sense of empowerment, especially for students who may not have access to laptops or Wi-Fi at home.
Steven’s personal approach of learning every student’s name, recognizing their individual pathways, and listening to their voices has created a space of trust and motivation. Steven’s emphasis on belonging and connection resonates strongly with UTEP’s diverse student population, many of whom are first-generation college students.

What’s Next?

Steven continues to innovate within the Entering Student Experience program, experimenting with new ways to meet students where they are—technologically, emotionally, and academically. He is also mentoring new faculty and sharing his philosophy of personalized teaching: that real learning happens when students feel seen, valued, and understood.

Want to Know More?

Learn more about the Entering Student Experience at UTEP and how courses like UNIV 1301 are helping new Miners start strong.
For support in integrating technology or student-centered practices into your teaching, connect with UTEP’s InSPIRE Creative Team for consultations and classroom collaborations.

UTEP Resources

The UTEP InSPIRE creative team is ready for consultations and collaborations to bring the metaverse into your classroom. InSPIRE can also help with incorporating various visual communication and multimedia into your teaching.

UTEP’s GAIA Makerspace provides students with a space to explore areas related to multimedia production and 3D design.