Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Creating A Culture Of Philanthropy With The Imsa Community, Dana Camacho, Cesar Patino

Professional Learning Day

What motivates someone to donate to a cause? Why is philanthropy important at IMSA? What *is* the IMSA Fund, anyway?

Join us for a brief overview of the IMSA Fund and what we do, then share your experience and expertise to brainstorm new ways to engage students, faculty & staff, alumni, and the community around us. Share how IMSA inspires you and inspire others to support IMSA’s mission.

Enhancing Experiential Learning Inside & Outside The Classroom, Dr. Paul Gaszak, Dr. Luke Berryman

Professional Learning Day

How can we continue to expand experiential opportunities through courses, co-curricular, and extracurricular programs? In this session, we will showcase examples of existing programs with experiential elements, as well as what embedded experiential learning opportunities could look like across the Academy

Disease Detectives: An Introductory Exploration Of Foodborne Epidemiology, Dr. Zack Conley

Professional Learning Day

This session is an interactive workshop utilizing inquiry-based and problem-centered learning to introduce basic concepts of epidemiology. In particular participants will engage in group discussion and decision making to explore foodborne illnesses and the science used to track them. Our hope is to use this session as an opportunity to solicit feedback on ways to improve these lessons.

Ai At Work: A Panel, Rich Busby, Lindsey Herlehy, Ashley Ott, Andrew Reif

Professional Learning Day

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how we work, teach, and collaborate. In this panel discussion, four IMSA staff members from different departments will share how they’re using AI in their daily roles—from streamlining workflows and enhancing communication to supporting teaching, learning, and operations. Join us to explore practical examples, lessons learned, and emerging ideas for how AI can help us work smarter and more creatively across the academy.

The Core Of Computing, Dan Campbell

Professional Learning Day

Computer science can be divided into three foundational paradigms: theory, design, and abstraction. I will share an effort to bring these paradigms to IMSA through two new courses, Elements of Computing Systems 1 and 2, and an independent study, Theory of Computation. The goal is to build a rigorous, engaging foundation for deeper study in computer science. In this talk, I’ll reflect on what’s working, what’s challenging, and early classroom experiences.

Spam, Spam, Spam! To Click Or Not To Click., Steve Dutcher, Its Department

Professional Learning Day

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month—join ITS for a fun and eye-opening session on spotting and stopping cyber threats. From suspicious emails and hacked accounts to unattended devices, we’ll uncover the tricks attackers use and share practical tips to protect yourself and IMSA. This 30 minute session blends real examples, humor, and hands-on awareness so you’ll leave ready to say: Not today, spam!

Re-Thinking Statistics; Proposing Curriculum Changes To Our Statistics Curriculum At Imsa, Dr. Brian Trainor, Paul Rummelhoff

Professional Learning Day

We’re currently thinking of overhauling the statistics curriculum to move away from the traditional 2-semester AP-style course and move towards a 1-semester college course for dual credit. In addition we are thinking of offering more statistics courses post-intro stats and we could use some thought partners to discuss these changes.

Powerschool For Staff, Dr.Paul Gaszack

Professional Learning Day

PowerSchool, our student information system, has lots of information that can be helpful for staff across the academy, such as student and family contact info, faculty schedules, room lists, and more. In this session, we will explore some basic functions of PowerSchool that may be helpful in your role and/or departmen

Use Your Words: Positive Interims & Engagement, Tracy Townsend

Professional Learning Day

This year in particular, Faculty have been encouraged to establish connections with their students, which lead to my experiment with using regular interim comments for every student as a tool for improving my connection to them and their families. Along the way, I learned something about how to reach my most isolated students and how to pay attention to my classroom in new ways.

The American Dream As Told By Marginalized Voices, Erin Micklo

Professional Learning Day

History is often told by the victors, but in moments of trauma or marginalization, history can be taught through literature. This session will look at how poetry emerged from the Angel Island detainment camps, Japanese internment camps, and Native American short fiction. We will discuss how and why these lessons are rarely taught in schools, and how learning about history through literature can help students understand current events and the world around them.

Tips And Tricks To Effective Supervision, Steve Zant, Meg Junk

Professional Learning Day

Whether you're a first-time supervisor or a seasoned professional, this workshop will help build your supervisory toolbox.

Weaving Steam Into Tradition: The Science And Art Behind The Mexican Zarape, David Hernandez

Professional Learning Day

This presentation explores the deep interconnection between traditional Mexican textile practices and modern STEAM education through the lens of the zarape. The zarape is more than a cultural artifact—it embodies centuries of scientific, technological, artistic, and mathematical knowledge. From the physics of hand-spun cotton and wool to the chemistry of natural dyes and the mathematical patterns in weaving, the process of creating a zarape offers powerful ancestral knowledge of STEAM in action.

Ai And Neuroscience: Hope, Humbug, Or Hype, Dr.Ashwin Mohan

Professional Learning Day

This session explores the rapidly evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and neuroscience. Through case studies, interactive discussion, and hands-on exploration, participants will gain an understanding of AI as a Co-Scientist, as well as how insights from neuroscience have and continue to inspire design of AI approaches. Attendees will explore practical applications where AI and neuroscience already meet (such as brain–computer interfaces, mental health technologies, and cognitive modeling); consider ethical, societal, and educational implications of merging these two powerful domains and aim to distinguish between genuine advances, exaggerated claims, and common misconceptions.

Quantum Science And Engineering: An Emerging Field Where Imsa Can Have An Impact, Dr.Evan Glazer,, Anastasia Perry, Kishor Kapale,

Professional Learning Day

Illinois’ $500 million investment in the future development of Quantum Computing and Microelectronics Park is a great opportunity for IMSA to get connected in this emerging field. This workshop will explore what is quantum, classroom examples, why it is important to IMSA, how we are engaged right now, and how we might create future opportunities for IMSA students and IMSA outreach.

How Ai Really Works, Dr. Peter Dong

Professional Learning Day

This session will discuss, in as simple a way as possible, how generative artificial intelligence works, using simple demonstrations to show the basic principles of large language models. The hope is that this will help dispel the tendency to view AI as some sort of black magic and allow people to consider carefully how it can be useful as a tool—and when it can’t.

The Chemistry In Art, Joyce Symoniak

Professional Learning Day

Chemistry plays an important role in the arts, especially when working with solids and liquids that form the basis of art. Solid pigments help to give paints their vibrant colors. The interaction between these states of matter determines the texture, durability, and finish of the artwork. Understanding the chemistry behind art allows artists to push the boundaries of artistic expression. We will explore the difference between solid and liquids while creating a piece of art.

Are You Following Me?: Using Social Media To Engage Students, Dr. Emily Gauld

Professional Learning Day

In this session, we will explore how social media can be used to complement curriculum, encourage student learning, and build a stronger community of learners both inside and outside the classroom. We will look at social media examples of subject-area (and even class-specific) accounts from IMSA and beyond to discuss how we can create content designed for students and—by intentional use of algorithmic AI—shape what content is being pushed to their feeds on a regular basis.

Imsa’S Residential Life Experience, Stephanie Broy, Cameron Doxey, Taylor Jones, Emily Cheng, Vivian Thurmond

Professional Learning Day

This presentation will offer faculty and staff an inside look at the Residential Life experience, highlighting how our programs support student development, well-being, and community building. Through real examples and student stories, we’ll showcase the impact of intentional programming, peer leadership, and collaboration across campus. The goal is strengthening partnerships and exploring ways faculty and staff can further engage with and support the residential student experience.

Ctrl-Alt-Delete: Shifting Mindsets & Building Momentum, Courtney Caruthers, Steve Zant

Professional Learning Day

Using the Ctrl-Alt-Delete framework, this interactive session will draw on coaching, mentorship, and progressive conversations to inspire growth. Together, we’ll explore what to control, what alternatives to try, and what barriers to release. Participants will leave with practical tools, renewed clarity, and a sense of momentum; because sometimes we all need a reset.

The Effects Of Personalized Learning On High School English Language Arts Students' Self-Perceived College And Career Readiness: A Phenomenological Study, Erica Hyneman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to discover the lived experiences of personalized learning when implemented in a high school English language arts class for students at County High School. The theory guiding this study was constructivist learning theory, as it is the foundation for personalized learning. The central research question aimed to discover the lived experiences of personalized learning in a high school English language arts classroom. This transcendental phenomenological study included 12 participants enrolled in an 11th-grade English language arts class at County High School, a rural, public, Title I school in the deep south. Data was …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Lived Experiences Of Educators In Nursing Programs Experiencing Changes In Academic Nurse Administrators From High Attrition, Anny Dionne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical study was to describe and interpret the lived experiences of educators in nursing programs who experienced changes in academic nurse administrators at colleges and universities in a southern state in the United States. Nursing academic administrators influence the quality of nursing programs. Changes in academic administrators are experienced by educators of nursing programs, who, in turn, contribute to the students' learning experience. Stress is perceived differently in individuals. Lazarus and Folkman's transactional theory of stress and coping (TTSC) is the theory guiding this study. This theory examines how individuals interpret and react to events. The …

Stoic Wisdom For The Contemplative Teacher: Prosochê And Praemeditatio Malorum As Alternative Approaches To Mindfulness, Anna Rumjahn

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

In K-12 environments where teacher burnout and attrition are increasingly prevalent, where can educational professionals seek sustainable approaches to reduce exhaustion, emotional demands, and uncertainty? In this paper, I extend Christopher McCaw’s research on the direct and dynamic relationship between contemplative practices and who teachers are and are becoming. By examining the current debates around defining reflective and contemplative practitioners, I call for alternative definitions of mindfulness when considering teacher professional becoming and submit for consideration the perspectives of Greco-Roman philosophy which has hitherto been less explored apropos education. Using prosochê (attention) and the Stoic exercise of praemeditatio malorum to …

Introduction: Facing The Challenge Of Ai With Feminist Pedagogy, Margaret A. Murray

Feminist Pedagogy

This special issue truly faces the challenge of AI with feminist pedagogy. The introduction briefly summarizes the five critical commentaries, five original teaching activities and three book reviews that make up this issue on AI.

Towards An Ecofeminist Pedagogy: The Environmental Ethics Of Ai, Jessica K. Crowell

Feminist Pedagogy

Previous scholarship has outlined some of the ethical considerations regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom and beyond, such as the potentials for plagiarism, information bias, disinformation, or even violations of user privacy. Though research suggests that machine learning is a major and ever-increasing contributor to carbon emissions, there has been little discussion of how we teach about the ethics of AI from an environmental perspective. Therefore, this critical commentary first outlines how an ecofeminist pedagogy can help students consider the environmental and ecological effects of new technologies, including AI. At its core, an ecofeminist pedagogy argues …

Rethinking Civic Education. A Review Of Education For Liberal Democracy: Using Classroom Discussion To Build Knowledge And Voice, Jordan Garner, Colton Morton, Palak Shah

Democracy & Education

In his book Education for Liberal Democracy: Using Classroom Discussion to Build Knowledge and Voice, Walter Parker (2023) takes a centrist approach to redesigning civic education. Throughout the book, Parker provides valuable strategies teachers can implement into the K–12 social studies classroom to teach for democracy. While we believe Parker's instructional strategies lay the groundwork for reshaping civic education, we contend that the book does not adequately address issues of inequality and inequity. We would also challenge Parker to think about how teachers can educate for democracy outside of the social studies curriculum in the United States and globally. …

Democratic Education In The Literature Classroom: Integrating Political Literacy And Political Emotions Into Agonistic Literary Discussions. A Response To “Agonism In A Classroom Discussion On Strindberg’S Miss Julie”, Baptiste Roucau

Democracy & Education

In an era of rising polarization and populism, how can we transform the literature classroom into a site of democratic education? Drawing on agonistic scholarship, Tysklind et al. (2024) offer the agonistic literary discussion, a novel pedagogical approach aiming to prepare students for the complexities of democracy by forming collective identities and navigating conflictual consensus. To build on the authors’ work, this response article proposes two additions—political literacy and political emotions—and cautions against the risk of antagonism. Agonistic literary discussions can integrate political literacy through teaching relevant knowledge and careful questioning, enabling students to situate characters’ experiences in political contexts …

Action Civics As A Powerful Tool—Not A Panacea—In The Provision Of High-Quality Civic Education. A Response To “The Domino Effect”: How Early Adolescence Describe Their Capacity For Civic Engagement", Daniela Kruel Digiacomo

Democracy & Education

Action civics happens when young people do research, action, and reflection on social or political issues they care about. In this third decade of the 21st century, action civics is often found in after-school and/or out-of-school contexts, and substantive research now shows its power and potential for providing transformative learning experiences for young people, as is evidenced again in "The Domino Effect: How Early Adolescents Describe Their Capacity for Civic Engagement"—one of the feature articles of this issue. At the same time, action civics, precisely because it is so often conceived and enacted in out-of-school time spaces, is not, and …

The Need For ‘Soft Skills’ In Occupational Therapy Curricula: A Descriptive Analysis Of French Students’ Internship Comments, Cynthia Engels, Nadia Oubaya, Aliki Thomas

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

A competent occupational therapist needs soft skills. Although the French national occupational therapy (OT) curriculum lists 10 competences to be acquired, they do not include soft skills. The objectives of this study were to (a) Identify the proportion of soft skills in OT students’ internship comments written by internship tutors and (b) characterize the mentioned soft skills to help determine whether and which soft skills should be included in the new OT curriculum nationwide in France. This was a qualitative descriptive analysis of tutors’ comments on internship evaluations based on the framework method. Of the 1060 internship reports, 1035 (98%) …

Curbing Fatal And Non-Fatal Drowning Deaths: An Effort To Reach Under-Resourced Children In Baltimore, Maryland, Ashton P. Christo, William D. Ramos

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Drowning remains a significant public health problem in the United States, with The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting approximately 4,000 drowning deaths annually. Children aged 1-4 face the highest risk, and African American children are disproportionately affected–7.6 times more likely to drown than white children (CDC, 2024). In a city on the East Coast that is predominantly African American, limited access to swimming lessons heightens the risk. To reduce drowning rates, a collaborative swimming program was established between a city high school and a public school enrichment program. The initiative provided essential water safety and swimming skills …

Diversity In Aquatics:4th Special Issue, Tiffany M. Quash Ph.D., Angela K. Beale-Tawfeeq, Steven N. Waller Ph.D.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The theme of this special issue is “Building a Community of Champions.” The purpose of this theme is to highlight and promote a civic engagement perspective that engages, advocates, and supports communities of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) in addressing the national, regional, and local evolving health-related issue of drowning. Aquatic Settings have been a pivotal focal point of social justice, water safety, and public health, not only in the past but also in our present day (Beale-Tawfeeq, Quash, et al, 2023 and Waller and Bemiller, 2023). Diversity In Aquatics (DIA) strives to positively impact the field of aquatics …