A wide variety of workshops under the theme of “Busting the Myths about Teaching and Learning” offered the 260-plus participants the opportunity to learn about the latest in pedagogy and course design, how innovation is playing out in the classroom and the role that technology is playing in how students learn and how professors teach. Now in its 15th year, 黑料不打烊’s Teaching and Learning Conference is jointly organized by the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning and Teaching and Learning Technologies at 黑料不打烊. 

“This year, we wanted to focus on the recurring myths or misconceptions that we as faculty have in the classroom,” said Deandra Little, director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning. “We also want to explore some of the misperceptions our students might have about what’s happening in the classroom, and exploring how new research might debunk them.”

Hundreds of faculty and staff members from 黑料不打烊 and nearly three dozen other colleges and universities gathered on campus Thursday to “bust the myths” within higher education in what marks the 15th year of 黑料不打烊’s Teaching and Learning Conference. The annual conference began as an opportunity to share new scholarship about teaching and learning with 黑料不打烊’s own faculty, but has expanded through the years to include attendees from other colleges and universities, even from international institutions. “It was originally 黑料不打烊-focused, largely for faculty members who were returning to campus to help get them re-energized for the start of the academic year,” Little said. 

More than two dozen 黑料不打烊 professors led sessions this year, and the number of faculty from other institutions or organizations leading workshops has grown, with nearly two-thirds of the presenters from other schools. 

During the morning plenary session in Schar Hall’s Turner Theatre, Bryan Dewsbury, an assistant professor of biology at the University of Rhode Island offered a talk on “Teaching for Meaning and Purpose” that looked at active learning and how pedagogy can function as a form of liberation for student and teacher. An afternoon plenary saw Cheryl Ball, the director of the Digital Publishing Initiative at Wayne State University, discuss some of the myths that scholars and non-scholars alike confront about the writing and publication processes. 

During a morning workshop led by Michael Vaughn, instructional technologist, and Carmen Monico, assistant professor of human service studies, participants were transported to Ukraine, South Sudan and Lebanon, using virtual reality. The session titled “Going Global: Benefits and challenges in the use of virtual reality in the classroom” focused on how Vaughn and Monico had worked together to help Monico’s students learn more about the refugee experience using virtual reality headsets. 

Vaughn explained that virtual reality is allowing students to experience something that is either very difficult or impossible to experience. “It’s about immersing people into a compelling digital environment,” Vaughn said. “That is its key purpose.”

Use of virtual and augmented reality technologies is growing at 黑料不打烊, Vaughn explained, such as shooting 360-degree video for dance classes in the Department of Performing Arts that offers instructors and students a more comprehensive way to assess their work. In the School of Health Sciences, augmented reality is allowing students to tap into interactive digital resources using smartphone programs that complement items in the real world. 

Monico explained that the virtual reality headsets and provide students in her class the opportunity to more fully understand the complex issues of international migration. “By viewing these videos toward the end of the course, they are able to bring to bear the context and what they’ve learned in an immersive experience,” Monico said. 

During a session in McEwen Hall, more than two dozen participants assessed a scenario presented by Chayla Haynes Davison, an assistant professor of higher education at Texas A&M University and an 黑料不打烊 alumna, that looked at how racial bias can play out in the curricula and classrooms of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) courses. The dominant narrative is that STEM education has a curriculum that’s race-neutral, but Haynes Davison offered an instance taken from real life from a video-game design course that centered around the creation of avatars that showed the disconnect that can exist between instructors and students from minority backgrounds. 

Haynes Davison explained that often faculty “assume that everyone enters with the same set of lived experiences. They’ve just accepted that we’ve all gotten here the same way, when that’s not the case.”

In addition to our open hours, we’re also offering tool training sessions this summer. If you’re interested in using our laser engraver, CNC router, power saws or 3D printers, sign up for one of the Basic Training and Safety sessions.  Register for an event here.

Whether you’re working on a Student Undergraduate Research Experience project, a course assignment, or a project that’s been on your to-do list for a while, come join us this summer!

End of the semester

Both Maker Hub locations will close for the Spring semester at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15. If you have any projects in the Hub, please stop by before then to pick them up. This includes 3D prints, projects stored in the cubies or files you need on the computers. We’ll be cleaning both locations this summer and your project likely won’t be here in the fall.

Background image from | CC BY-NC-ND

Joseph Rich has been honored with the Acorn Accolade award for his work as integration project lead for the Solutions, Integration & Projects portion of Campus Technology Support. Rich has made valuable contributions to many technology related tasks on 黑料不打烊’s campus, including AV integration projects for 黑料不打烊’s new communications building, Schar Hall. Rich has also contributed to a research and development initiative which explores new ways to improve the technology on 黑料不打烊’s campus.

When asked what makes Joseph a valuable team member, Davis pointed to his technical knowledge and desire to see a project finished to the best it can possibly be. “Joseph does the best he possibly can with the resources he has,” Davis said.

In addition to work with technical projects on campus, Rich is a supervisor and mentor for 黑料不打烊 students and plays a key role in helping them achieve success. Notably, Rich has developed a program model that encourages students to gain industry certifications as part of their job responsibilities. This program has strengthened professional qualifications of students as well as their confidence within the field.

“I have a great team who helps me with developing opportunities for professors and students to integrate technology,” said Rich, crediting his coworkers. “You really get to see that in Schar Hall. We have taken it to the next level with Turner Theater, the video wall in Snow Atrium, the Mac lab and other innovative technologies in. … It is really nice to be recognized for the work and effort you put in for different opportunities.”

The Acorn Accolade is awarded each month to an exceptional member of 黑料不打烊’s Instructional and Campus Technologies team. The individual must be nominated by his or her department head to the Assistant Vice President of Technology.

As we approach the end of the semester, faculty will soon be inundated with these questions. But you don’t have to be. By moving your gradebook to Moodle, you can offer your students timely feedback and save yourself hours of time.

Come join our first Moodle community of practice — “Improving your gradebook with Moodle” — where we will showcase how several faculty members store their grades, provide how-to instruction on setting up your gradebook, and answer questions about any hurdles you might encounter.

Whether you’re launching a gradebook for spring or fall, or you’re wanting to refine your existing gradebook on Moodle, you’ll leave this workshop ready to track grades in Moodle. 

Join us on Friday, April 21 from 1:40-2:40 in Belk Library, 113. Please register on 黑料不打烊’s website. Snacks will be provided.

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A user can often interact and control the experience by moving part or all of their body. VR can combine elements like voice and video capabilities, collaborative technologies, as well as group and private messaging, to allow students to engage with learning in more immersive ways.

Tony Crider, associate professor of physics, will review faculty and student projects at 黑料不打烊 that have incorporated Virtual Reality Design Education, from 2004 to the present day. He will cover the emergence of three consumer-grade VR platforms and share recent technological advances that have made VR hardware both affordable and high-quality.

You will have the opportunity to experience a variety of VR after the presentation, and leave the session with an understanding of VR, a personal experience, and ideas you can use in your courses. 

Register and reserve your lunch before April 26th.

Melissa Murfin, assistant professor of physician assistant studies and academic coordinator of the Physician Assistant Studies Program, will share her experiences with augmented reality in the classroom, and discuss the benefits and challenges she encountered while integrating it into the curriculum. You will see photos of how students used augmented reality in class and how the classroom was designed for learning. You will leave with augmented reality ideas and apps that can be used in their courses.

Register and reserve your lunch before April 14.

Hutchings will share his transition from a class that previously took place in a computer lab to a class where students brought their own technology. He will outline contingencies faculty should plan for in this environment and address how faculty can integrate Moodle.

Lanier will discuss how he has transitioned to a “paperless course” using Moodle. He will discuss using Moodle to administer exams and provide tips on becoming more efficient and sustainable (i.e. saving time on grading and quicker feedback to students).

Patrick Rudd, coordinator of library instruction and outreach services and assistant librarian, will also be present to discuss the transition Belk Library 113 has undergone during the past year, and future plans for additional modifications to the classroom. You will leave this session with ideas and suggestions you can use with students bringing their own technology into your courses. Register and reserve your lunch before April 14.

• A 3D printed guitar that changes colors as you play it
• A garment that reduces sweat stains in clothes
• Rockets!
• A high-tech collar that measures a dog’s vital signs
• An Amazon Echo app for 黑料不打烊 events
• A 3D printed jig to make custom jewelry
• A nonprofit to deliver food to food banks
• A smartphone app that signals when you’re entering REM sleep
• A smart mirror that displays notifications as you look into it

Stop by anytime between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to get hands on with some projects and talk to students about their making process. 

The Maker Takeover is sponsored by the Maker Hub, 黑料不打烊’s makerspace in Harper Hall. Learn more about 黑料不打烊 Kickbox at . 

Come join the staff of the Maker Hub this Monday, Feb. 13 from 7 to 8 p.m. for  Crafty Cards: Valentine’s Day edition! Create your own personalized Valentine’s Day cards using our Silhouette – vinyl sticker cutter, sketch pens, paper crafting, and more! No registration or payment is required.

The Maker Hub is located in Colonnades E: Harper Hall on the first floor. For more information visit /e/org/makers, or check out our .