What does it mean to teach well? For Dr. Brianno Coller, Distinguished Teaching Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Northern Illinois University (NIU), it means embracing complexity, curiosity, and even chaos—with a bicycle in hand.
The Transformative Power of Great Teaching
Building on this philosophy, in his recent seminar, “Learning the Right Way to Ride the Wrong Bicycle,” Dr. Coller didn’t just talk about teaching, he electrified the room with a live demonstration. He hopped on a modified bicycle that defies intuitive control, showing firsthand that learning isn’t just about soaking up facts; it’s about rewiring your brain and daring to fail. The bicycle became a vivid metaphor for the challenges students experience when engaging with complex, new ideas and the resilience needed to master them.
The impact was immediate: the room buzzed with excitement as undergraduate and graduate students—many enrolled in Dr. Coller’s classes—filled the space, eager to ask questions, take selfies with their professor, and share the moment. Faculty from across the university also joined, drawn by Dr. Coller’s innovative teaching and passion for learning.
For more than twenty years, Dr. Coller has energized NIU’s classrooms, teaching Engineering Dynamics and Computational Methods—even on his 200th round. He reinvents his courses each semester, weaving in whatever sparks his curiosity. Sometimes these innovations work brilliantly, and sometimes they don’t, but he always invites students to engage deeply with interesting problems.
A Journey of Innovation
Dr. Coller’s commitment to innovation extends well beyond the classroom. He has blended rigorous engineering and creative inquiry throughout his life journey, from skiing and soccer fields in Reno to the hallowed halls of Cornell, Princeton, and Caltech, and on to industry giants such as Hughes Aircraft and Pratt & Whitney. He’s helped spacecraft deploy solar panels in orbit and worked to prevent jet engines from catastrophic failure. Now, he channels that same precision and imagination into the classroom.
Scholarly Achievements, Honors, and Awards
His scholarly impact is equally impressive. Dr. Coller has secured eight highly competitive research grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), reflecting his significant contributions to engineering education. He has also teamed up with NBC and Olympic gold medalist Shaun White to demystify the physics of the snowboard half-pipe, proving that engineering can be accessible, rigorous, and exhilarating. Recognizing his lasting influence, NIU awarded Dr. Coller the Presidential Teaching Professorship in 2014, and the Carnegie Foundation named him Illinois’ Professor of the Year in 2015. He embodies the spirit of a transformative educator.
Lasting Lessons for Teaching Impact and Enduring Inspiration
Ultimately, his seminar was more than an engineering showcase—it was a masterclass for anyone passionate about teaching, learning, or the joy of discovery. Whether you’re a seasoned professor or a graduate student just beginning your teaching journey, you couldn’t help but leave inspired.
In the end, everyone walked away with a powerful reminder: great teaching isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about daring to ask better questions, embracing uncertainty, and sometimes taking the risk to ride the wrong bicycle—only to discover the right path forward.
Stay tuned for updates about the next Presidential Teaching Professor Seminar. Details coming in early 2026!
