Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Commons^™

Transformational Perceptions Of International Service Learning Projects: India And The Dominican Republic, Seth E. Jenny, Scot Rademaker, Geraldine Jenny

Winthrop Conference on Teaching and Learning

This presentation will share qualitative research regarding two distinctly different service learning projects from two diverse universities. First, participant voices will be presented regarding Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania undergraduate students serving at a home for poverty stricken lepers’ children in India. Post-hoc interviews focused on prior expectations, the reality of the experience, lessons learned, transformational change, and service learning outcomes. In addition, preliminary data will be shared regarding Winthrop University pre-service teachers perceptions from a short-term study abroad trip within the context of poverty of the Dominican Republic. These students served through leading small teaching episodes within Dominican public …

“Are We Playing A Game Today?” Classroom Engagement And Assessment Through Gamification, Tracy A. Hudson Ms, Kendall Lentz

Winthrop Conference on Teaching and Learning

Today’s classroom demands a different style of engagement and assessment, primarily due to the changing nature of today’s learners. In fact, according to Liz Dwyer in “How Gaming is Changing the Classroom,” by the time students are age 21, they will have participated in over 10,000 hours of video gaming. As a result, using traditional pedagogies and “skill and drill” teaching strategies aren’t as effective with students who are more inclined to favor a controller over a book. Therefore, regardless of the discipline, adding gamification to the classroom can dramatically increase student engagement and also provide instructors with instantaneous assessment …

Quantitative Reasoning For The Social Science Classroom, Maria Aysa-Lastra

Winthrop Conference on Teaching and Learning

Twenty five years ago the Mathematical Sciences Education Board (Scheaffer 1990) stated that “Citizens who cannot properly interpret quantitative data are, in this day and age, functionally illiterate” Quantitative reasoning then should not be reduced to the ability to perform arithmetic functions but must be conceived as “a habit of the mind, competency and comfort in working with numerical data” (AACU 2015). Moreover, quantitative reasoning is essential for the development of higher order level skills such as analyzing, evaluating and creating. In a world, in which data is produced more rapidly than it can be analyzed, employers note that …

Digital Badges As Micro-Credentials: An Opportunity To Improve Learning Or Just Another Education Technology Fad?, Patrick Guilbaud, Joyce Anne Camp, Andrew Vorder Bruegge

Winthrop Conference on Teaching and Learning

Digital badges are online records of achievements that are awarded to learners for mastery of a specific set of educational contents. Often referred to as micro-credentials, digital badges are being used by many higher education institutions to assess and validate clearly defined chunks of knowledge, competency, or accomplishment.

At present, the use of digital badges is widespread. As a result, the perception exists that digital badges might be over-sold and over-hyped, as an assessment tool. Instructional design practice, however, reveals that learning objectives are best attained when course contents are broken into manageable chunks. In this context, digital badges, serving …

Organizing The Online Course, Kathleen A. Burke Ms.

Winthrop Conference on Teaching and Learning

If you are new to online instruction or are a veteran looking for fresh ideas for designing your online courses, this presentation will demonstrate user-friendly design for online courses, including course menu links, instructions, content examples and tips for making the all-important first week of class work to make the whole semester more dynamic. Take away ideas to jump-start your course organization and create a meaningful learning experience for students.

A Spoonful Of Success: Undergraduate Tutor-Tutee Interactions And Performance, Jonathan Marx, Michelle Wolf

Winthrop Conference on Teaching and Learning

We explore how the dynamics of the tutor-tutee relationship influence student self- reliance, and ultimately course performance. We examine 333 tutor and tutee pairs at a student success center at a public, comprehensive, university of about 5,000 undergraduates in over 60 different courses during the spring of 2015. We find as frequency and quality of the interactions between tutor and tutees increase that the tutors increasingly foster independent study habits on the part of the tutees. The incorporation of independent study habits was then associated with better course outcomes. In other words, the development of a positive, sustained relationship by …

Blended And Flipped, Theresa Butori

Winthrop Conference on Teaching and Learning

STEM courses, in particular, challenge educators and learners to learn complex processes, much of which is not intuitive or outside their realm of experience. Blended learning and flipped classrooms allow educators to tackle the rigors of STEM education head-on (Bishop & Verleger, 2013).

Defining blended and flipped: “Course that integrates online elements into face-to-face delivery. Content and materials are available online and typically keeps all or most face-to-face meetings. The inverted, active learning classroom “flips” the in-class and homework activities, often by moving content lectures before class, in that students watch online lectures at home, while class time is spent …

A Case Study: Using Blackboard Tools To Measure Correlations Between Student Engagement And Student Achievement, Andrew Vorder Bruegge

Winthrop Conference on Teaching and Learning

The Blackboard course management system includes the tool "statistics tracking." An instructor can use this tool to generate a report that "displays the summary of usage for that content item and [the students] enrolled in the course. The access date, hour and day of the week are all reported for the selected item and [students]." In this case study the researcher will correlate aggregate data about students' visits to numerous content items in a course and their final grade in the course. The instructor will also correlate aggregate data from a study log created to track the number of hours …

Life Lessons Of A Co-Teacher, Donna Cherveny

Winthrop Conference on Teaching and Learning

Co-teaching is a common practice across schools. While research may be present regarding the effects of co-teaching, there is little literature that simply offers the perspective a co-teacher. As a former co-teacher of six years, I experienced various encounters and relationships that helped shape my current career as a professor of education. From these experiences, I have developed a list of “wisha wouldas” as a reflection. These “wisha wouldas” are basic things I wish I had done or experienced that I feel would have made me a stronger co-teacher. Included in my list of “wisha wouldas” are co-teaching contracts to …

Capstone Courses At Winthrop University: What Are They?, Marsha Bollinger

Winthrop Conference on Teaching and Learning

Capstone courses are generally considered high-impact and transformative for students. In the process of redesigning the officially-designated capstone course for the environmental sciences and studies program at Winthrop University, the author discovered that there is no clear definition of what this senior culminating experience should be. Formats at Winthrop range from community field placements to individual research papers; course goals range from integrative discipline-based learning to career preparation to program assessment. Using course syllabi, catalog descriptions, and a questionnaire for department or program chairs, an analysis will be presented of the variety of experiences, formats, and goals for all undergraduate …

Credits Earned, Credits Due: Forging New Degree Completion Pathways For Post-Traditional Students With The Aid Of Prior Learning Assessment Portfolios, Patrick Guilbaud, Greg Oakes

Winthrop Conference on Teaching and Learning

In recent years, there has been a surge in the number of adult students who have expressed interest in returning back to school to complete their undergraduate degrees. Research, however, shows that many adult students who start degree completion programs do not complete them.

An oft-cited roadblock to degree completion by adult students is lack of recognition of prior learning obtained on the job or through other means. As a result, prior learning assessment (PLA) has now become an important tool used by colleges and universities to facilitate access to higher education by adult students.

The Council for Adult & …

"Can We Talk?": Strategies For Successful Classroom Discussion, John Bird

Winthrop Conference on Teaching and Learning

We all recognize the value and importance of class discussion for student learning and engagement, but we have probably had uneven results when we try to hold discussions in class. Sometimes it goes great, but sometimes it fails, miserably. In this workshop, we will examine some of the problems with class discussion: students who won’t talk, students who talk too much, students who go off topic, silent classes, and so on. Then we will explore and practice some techniques that can solve those problems, including more effective question design, effective questioning techniques, the use of writing as discussion starters, and …

All Aboard, All Attuned And All Involved: Fostering Learner Engagement And Teamwork With Clickers In An Introductory Computer Science Course At Winthrop University, Patrick Guilbaud, Michael Whitney

Winthrop Conference on Teaching and Learning

Modern education technology tools and learning systems provide the means for faculty to develop courses that offer connected and engaging learning opportunities. However, many courses, particularly those in the sciences and engineering disciplines, are not often designed to encourage collaboration, cooperation and teamwork.

Given the presence of a global and interconnected economy, it is critical for students to interact with classmates who hold diverse perspectives, experiences and opinions. Moreover, research shows that students who have had the opportunity to participate in learning activities with heterogeneous teams --early in their college life-- are more likely to develop lasting relationships with classmates …

Critical Reading, Critical Research: Practical Strategies To Develop, Amanda L. Hiner

Winthrop Conference on Teaching and Learning

Perhaps no other skill affects students’ intellectual achievement more profoundly than the skill of critical reading. The analysis and assessment of written texts requires specific, learned skills in unpacking a text’s meaning, understanding its claims and implications, assessing its logic and coherence, evaluating its evidence, and drawing logical conclusions based on its claims. Both anecdotal evidence and qualitative research suggest that these skills are lacking in many high school and college students, and though teachers are intuitively aware of how crucial such skills are in the research and writing process, they often struggle to help students practice and apply critical …

Faculty Achievements, February 2016, Otterbein University

Faculty Achievement Reports

No abstract provided.

Spectators Or Patriots? Citizens In The Information Age, Amrita Dhawan

Publications and Research

In theory, a strong democracy rests on robust citizen participation. The practice in most democracies is quite different. This gap presents a challenge, which can be narrowed by augmenting civic education to bring it up to date with the current information environment and thus give citizens the opportunity to participate. Robert Dahl’s work on democracy provides a model that looks at this problem structurally. He writes about the ideals and the actual institutions necessary for a democracy and if we situate his model in the modern information environment we get a better idea of how to improve civic education. Successful …

A Peer Training Model To Promote Digital Fluency Among University Faculty: Program Components & Initial Efficacy Data, Linda Samek, Robin M. Ashford, Gloria Doherty, Debra S. Espinor, Anna A. Berardi Phd.

Faculty Publications - College of Education

The Digital Fluency Initiative: A faculty-led peer mentoring program integrating education technologies and complementary pedagogies to facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes.

Table Discussion Final Summary - Balancing Wellness With Productivity, Portland State University

Winter Symposium

Final summary of the table discussion on the topic of balancing wellness with productivity.

With the exception of some discussion about wellness in the curriculum, the topics that emerged from this set of table notes do not fall within the purview of the Faculty Senate. For example, there are ideas related to (1) resources to support student retention and success, which intersect with initiatives in the Strategic Plan, and also (2) issues of faculty work/life balance.

Table Discussion Notes - Balancing Wellness With Productivity, Portland State University

Winter Symposium

Notes from table discussion on the topic of balancing wellness with productivity.

With the exception of some discussion about wellness in the curriculum, the topics that emerged from this set of table notes do not fall within the purview of the Faculty Senate. For example, there are ideas related to (1) resources to support student retention and success, which intersect with initiatives in the Strategic Plan, and also (2) issues of faculty work/life balance.

Table Discussion Notes - The Significance Of Equity And Inclusion In Education, Portland State University

Winter Symposium

Notes from table discussion on the topic of the significance of equity and inclusion in education.

The majority of discussion focused on the need for cultural competence training, and how to ensure equity and inclusion in the curriculum and classroom. Three leitmotifs run through the comments: this is important; this will be time and labor intensive; significant support will be required from the administration to address these issues and implement any initiatives. The topics and suggestions that emerged from the discussion align better with the charge of the Diversity Action Council than that of a future Senate Task Force on …

Table Discussion Final Summary - The Significance Of Equity And Inclusion In Education, Portland State University

Winter Symposium

Final summary of the table discussion on the topic of the significance of equity and inclusion in education.

The majority of discussion focused on the need for cultural competence training, and how to ensure equity and inclusion in the curriculum and classroom. Three leitmotifs run through the comments: this is important; this will be time and labor intensive; significant support will be required from the administration to address these issues and implement any initiatives. The topics and suggestions that emerged from the discussion align better with the charge of the Diversity Action Council than that of a future Senate Task …

Table Discussion Notes - Harmonizing Education For Local Concerns With Global Issues, Portland State University

Winter Symposium

Notes from table discussion on the topic of harmonizing education for local concerns with global issues.

The scope of discussion included curriculum, pedagogy, extracurricular opportunities for students, and faculty development. After exploring the varied connections between local and global, the majority of comments focused on ensuring a global/ international perspective in the curriculum, recognizing the value of language learning for a broad spectrum of life and career pathways, and supporting faculty development of pedagogical techniques that foster intercultural/ global competencies. Participants highlighted the rich cultural diversity on campus, and proposed that we find more ways to foster multicultural interactions outside …

Table Discussion Final Summary - Harmonizing Education For Local Concerns With Global Issues, Portland State University

Winter Symposium

Final summary of the table discussion on the topic of harmonizing education for local concerns with global issues.

The scope of discussion included curriculum, pedagogy, extracurricular opportunities for students, and faculty development. After exploring the varied connections between local and global, the majority of comments focused on ensuring a global/ international perspective in the curriculum, recognizing the value of language learning for a broad spectrum of life and career pathways, and supporting faculty development of pedagogical techniques that foster intercultural/ global competencies. Participants highlighted the rich cultural diversity on campus, and proposed that we find more ways to foster multicultural …

Table Discussion Notes - Balancing Academic Depth And Breadth, Portland State University

Winter Symposium

Notes from the table discussion on the topic of balancing academic depth and breadth.

A large part of discussion focused on how we should define breadth for our student body, the financial and societal contexts that can make breadth a difficult sell to students, and the importance of making the curriculum relevant to our students’ needs and experiences. In terms of academic content, discussion was fairly general, noting the value of balancing knowledge with skills, and providing content related to life, citizenship and career. Quite a bit of discussion explored ways to structure the curriculum and design pedagogy to meet …

Table Discussion Final Summary - Balancing Academic Depth And Breadth, Portland State University

Winter Symposium

Final Summary from the table discussion on the topic of balancing academic depth and breadth.

A large part of discussion focused on how we should define breadth for our student body, the financial and societal contexts that can make breadth a difficult sell to students, and the importance of making the curriculum relevant to our students’ needs and experiences. In terms of academic content, discussion was fairly general, noting the value of balancing knowledge with skills, and providing content related to life, citizenship and career. Quite a bit of discussion explored ways to structure the curriculum and design pedagogy to …

Welcome & Keynote Address By Dr. Kevin P. Reilly, Wim Wiewel, Sona K. Andrews, Brad Hansen, Kevin P. Reilly

Winter Symposium

Our keynote speaker for the event is Dr. Kevin P. Reilly, President Emeritus and Regent Professor with the 26-campus University of Wisconsin System, having served as President from 2004-2013.

Dr. Reilly will address what society is asking of higher education in the 21st century, and will stimulate a discussion on global issues, evolving higher education delivery formats, and the ongoing conversations on utility and utopia as Provost Andrews published in her blog. His experience leading the Wisconsin University System and perspective on current issues in Wisconsin higher education, work on the Higher Education Working Group on Global Issues for the …

Fostering An Inclusive Stem Workforce, Cary A. Supalo Dr.

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

The following keynote address was delivered by Dr. Cary A. Supalo at the 2015 Training Workforce and Development and diversity conference which is one of the divisions that is part of NIH’s general medical sciences. This conference was attended by over 500 program directors from all of the T32 sponsored projects in 2015. This presentation discussed the importance of a full inclusive STEM workforce that includes persons with disabilities

Digital Distractions In The Classroom Phase Ii: Student Classroom Use Of Digital Devices For Non-Class Related Purposes, Bernard R. Mccoy

College of Journalism and Mass Communications: Faculty Publications

A 2015 survey of American college students examined classroom learning distractions caused by the use of digital devices for non-class purposes. The purpose of the study was to learn more about Millennial Generation students’ behaviors and perceptions regarding their classroom uses of digital devices for non-class purposes. The survey included 675 respondents in 26 states. Respondents spent an average of 20.9% of class time using a digital device for non-class purposes. The average respondent used a digital device 11.43 times for non-class purposes during a typical school day in 2015 compared to 10.93 times in 2013. A significant feature of …

6.0.B Discussion Historical Idea Of Heat As Substance, Christopher F. Bauer

Day 06 Feb 10 Gas properties and laws. Historical ideas about heat.

WELCOME to WINDOWS on the INQUIRY CLASSROOM!

You have landed on a piece of a National Science Foundation Project (DUE 1245730) directed by Professor Chris Bauer, Chemistry Department, University of New Hampshire. This is one part of a completely documented inquiry-based university science course called “Fire & Ice” which explores the nature of heat and temperature. There are multiple video perspectives and commentary from instructors and students, and documents of all course materials (agenda, instructions, student work). It’s too complicated to explain here. Take a look at the user orientation document at this link.

6.0.C.1 Hands-On Phase Properties Of Gases, Christopher F. Bauer

Day 06 Feb 10 Gas properties and laws. Historical ideas about heat.

WELCOME to WINDOWS on the INQUIRY CLASSROOM!

You have landed on a piece of a National Science Foundation Project (DUE 1245730) directed by Professor Chris Bauer, Chemistry Department, University of New Hampshire. This is one part of a completely documented inquiry-based university science course called “Fire & Ice” which explores the nature of heat and temperature. There are multiple video perspectives and commentary from instructors and students, and documents of all course materials (agenda, instructions, student work). It’s too complicated to explain here. Take a look at the user orientation document at this link.