Dr. Gerd Kortemeyer stands out for his scholarly approach to teaching physics, which deliberately draws on the theories and best practices in the research literature. Even his larger lecture sessions are remarkably interactive and student-centered—full of demonstrations, group work, and discussion. At the same time, he shows an impressive ability to engage students with the material outside the classroom; his students have been known to undertake informal evening experiments in the Holmes Hall elevator to resolve questions about gravity and acceleration that were deliberately left open at the end of the lecture.

Dr. Kortemeyer integrates his teaching with his research on the effectiveness of online learning tools through his work on the Learning Online Network with Computer-Assisted Personalized Approach, better known by the acronym LON-CAPA. His substantial roles as director of the LON-CAPA project and as a speaker and conference organizer within the international LON-CAPA community have been instrumental to the continuing development of this online educational platform and its adoption by 90 middle schools, high schools, and institutions of higher learning.

His deep commitment to supporting his students' learning and to creating technologies that will help all students learn more effectively make Gerd Kortemeyer a worthy recipient of the Michigan State University Teacher—Scholar Award.