ON Cultivating Student Engagement in Higher Ed Lauren Kelley

In this episode, Dr. John Jungck, Professor of Biological and Mathematical Sciences, and Jamie Summerfield, Ed tech Consultant with Academic Technology Services (ATS), talk with me about the popular Tech Talk Tuesdays speaker series at the University of Delaware (UD). John shares how he started the series in 2013 to facilitate cross-disciplinary conversations around using technology for teaching. Together, John and Jamie discuss the process of selecting diverse presenters and topics that highlight innovative teaching approaches and tools like AI. They emphasize creating an inclusive, casual environment that attracts faculty across disciplines. Successful past sessions have sparked new interdepartmental collaborations. Their goal remains to build a supportive learning community where UD faculty can share expertise, find mentors, and gain exposure for their teaching innovations.
Learn more about Tech Talk Tuesdays: Website linkCan't wait until the next Tech Talk Tuesday? Check out April workshops that will provide some virtually timely and practical introduction to the potential of AI tools to improve teaching, learning, and research.  This short list of workshops will later kick off a calendar of events starting this fall.  Learn more about these sessions: Register

In this special episode that is part of a short series about The Paul J. Rickards, Jr. Teaching Innovation Grant program, we highlighted Dr. Katy Bender, an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Delaware's Lerner College of Business & Economics. With a Ph.D. in Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics from The Ohio State University, Dr. Bender specializes in Resource & Environmental Economics, Experimental Economics, Development Economics, and Applied Econometrics. Dr. Bender talked about her grant project, "DataEnchanted: Transforming Numbers Into Knowledge," which uniquely incorporates the influence of music icon Taylor Swift to make data analysis accessible and engaging, particularly aiming to inspire more women into the field of economics. The grant application period is now open as of March 1, 2024, we invite you to uncover how this opportunity can ignite your innovative teaching initiatives. Dive deeper into the possibilities at https://ats.udel.edu/grant/.

In this captivating episode, part of our exclusive series on The Paul J. Rickards, Jr. Teaching Innovation Grant Program, we explore the transformative power of innovative teaching strategies within education. We're thrilled to feature Katie Leech, a distinguished graphic designer, fine artist, and educator with a deep-rooted passion for printmaking. Katie shares her expertise on the critical role of typography in communication, emphasizing its significance and influence in messaging. Further enriching the conversation, she delves into her explorations of how artificial intelligence tools could revolutionize the creative process. By assisting students in refining their decision-making skills, AI has the potential to significantly enhance customization in typography and imagery. This episode not only highlights Katie's work supported by the grant but also offers invaluable insights for teachers interested in sharing their innovative teaching strategies. With the grant application period now open as of March 1, 2024, we invite you to uncover how this opportunity can ignite your innovative teaching initiatives. Dive deeper into the possibilities at https://ats.udel.edu/grant/.

In this second episode, we're going to dive deeper into how UD's Academic Technology Services pivoted with resilience and innovation when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Stacy and Ali will share their insights on adapting to the sudden shift to remote learning, the creative solutions they provided, and how their support evolved as we emerged from that crisis. We'll also explore the compelling reasons why you, as an educator or content creator, should seriously consider tapping into these professional-grade facilities and services. Our guests will walk us through the straightforward process of how to get started.

You will have a chance to discover the state-of-the-art video production studios and services available right on the University of Delaware's campus in this insightful two-part series.
In Part One, featured guests, Stacy Weile, Manager of UD Studio & Video Conf, and Ali Pawlowski, Digital Media Specialist offer an exclusive look at the impressive Pearson Hall studios, control rooms, and newly redesigned recording spaces operated by the Academic Technology Services. Together we'll explore the latest tools and technologies available, how faculty can access these facilities, and learn about the hands-on support available to elevate your online learning content.

This episode provides audio shorts that explore three tech tools for enhancing student engagement and assessment. This episode spotlights Poll Everywhere, Perusall, and FeedbackFruits as innovative edtech solutions for interactivity, collaboration, and meaningful feedback. This special episode includes the help of artificial intelligence as my co-pilot in providing audio bites for two of the three tools covered.  Overall, these tools increase student participation, provide alternative assessments, save instructors time, and work in various course formats.

📍For more information:
ATS, visit: https://ats.udel.edu/
KCTO, visit: https://sites.udel.edu/kcto/
Innovative Teaching Strategies (ITS), visit: https://ats.udel.edu/innovative-teaching-strategies/