Faculty Spotlight
ETS recognizes faculty who are doing interesting and effective things with technology-enhanced course design and teaching. We are always looking for case studies to share with the community. If you or you know a colleague, who has used educational technologies in a novel manner, make a nomination to be on the spotlight!
Spotlight Article:
School of Law takes VR Technology into Classroom
Professor Eugene Kim (School of Law) is USF’s first faculty member to design his own custom Virtual Reality application for use in his Fall 2022 class, Advanced Legal Writing: Federal Civil Pre-Trial Motion Practice.
After participating in the AR/VR working group in Spring 2022, Eugene partnered with ETS technologists to develop his vision into a Virtual Courtroom that his students can visit anytime to familiarize themselves with the real world courtroom setting. Replicated from an actual courtroom in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the Virtual Courtroom provides exact layouts and arrangements of the courtroom so the students can visit as many times as needed from anywhere using a VR headset (Oculus Quest 2).
Eugene also designed an asynchronous learning activity led by a virtual robot assistant who provides a guided tour of the different areas of the courtroom. Students can immerse themselves in the courtroom setting to experience practical aspects of courtroom procedure, including how to check in with the courtroom deputy, where to wait for a matter to be called, etiquette on interactions with opposing counsel and courtroom staff, and other norms that aren’t taught in books and must be experienced first-hand to be fully understood.
Using the group practice room, Eugene’s students can practice motion hearings without being restricted to a specific time or location, helping them gain familiarity, comfort, and confidence in courtroom environments.
Instructional Strategies to Improve Access and Equity for Students
Professor Daniela Domínguez employs a mix of instructional strategies and technologies to better address issues of inclusion, diversity, and educational equity for her students in USF’s Marriage and Family Therapy graduate program.
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3D Printing : Transforming How Students Learn
See how Susan Stryker and Johnathan Cromwell in the Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Strategy program at the School of Management give students the opportunity to solve problems in more meaningful and tangible ways using 3D Printing.
With 3D printing, experiential learning can also be more fully realized, because it allows students to think of an idea, implement a design, and reflect on the process. By taking action with their assignments, they can have a real experience that enables more effective learning and knowledge retention.
Exploring the Teaching Toolbox in Data Science
To support the diverse learning needs of her MS in Data Science students, see how Dr. Diane Woodbridge recalibrated her teaching methods, and “flipped” her classes.
Watch Video On Teaching toolbox in data science »
The Joy of Rhetoric
When Assistant Professor Dr. Leigh Meredith tasked her first-year students to create group videos exploring the rhetoric of media messages, she inspired their interest in the foundational principles of rhetoric.
Watch Video On The Joy of Rhetoric »
Real-time Formative Assessment and Student Learning in Biology
Dr. Kai Blaisdell, Adjunct Professor in Biology, engages her students with polling and gathers insight on their learning to inform her instruction.
Watch video on student learning in Biology
Teaching Hybrid v.1—Finding Your Technology Threshold
For Adjunct Professor Cynthia Schultes, PhD, limiting the educational technology components in her Masters of Professional Communication course made it more manageable.
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Teaching Tax Law Online
Professor Josh Rosenberg in USF’s online Tax LL.M. program structures his courses to support online learning. He makes small changes every semester and gets feedback from his students, support from his program, and guidance from USF’s Instructional Design team to inform his process.
Watch the Video on Teaching Tax Law Online
USF’s Doctor of Nurse Practice Program (DNP) Course Translates an In-Class Activity for Online Learning
The Policy and Ethical Implications for Health Care Outcomes course, developed by Nancy Selix, DNP, FNP-C, CNM, CNL, was redesigned to a hybrid format course from its original format as a face-to-face (F2F) course. Angie Portacio, MA. Ed., instructional designer (ID) for the School of Nursing and Health Professions (SONHP), met with Professor Selix, so they could examine course design options together. In bringing certain facets of the F2F course to online, several gaps were identified during the redesign process.
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From Slavery to Obama: Transforming and Preserving a Flagship Critical Diversity Studies Course
When USF Distinguished Visiting Professor Dr. Clarence Jones developed and taught his Critical Diversity Studies course, From Slavery to Obama, it was initially offered to a small group of undergraduates who half-filled the stadium-seating in an old lecture hall. Shortly after launching the course, it became clear that the material and the instructor were extraordinarily compelling and of real historical importance. USF’s Critical Diversity Studies Department moved to format the course for an online audience. In 2016, the course was published online, extending its reach beyond one classroom at USF.
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Supporting Active Learning With Video
Kyoko Suda, Associate Professor, Modern and Classical Languages teaches undergraduate Japanese language 100 and 200-level classes. The challenge is finding enough class-time to allow students to practice Japanese language. Echo360 was the recommended solution because it allowed her to easily capture presentations off the computer with audio narration and video.
Watch the video on Supporting Active Learning With Video
Authentic Learning In Online and Hybrid Courses
Embracing the challenge of designing effective online and hybrid courses, USF's MAPC Program, headed by Academic Director, David Ryan, creates an authentic learning environment that bolsters its students' professional success.
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Promoting Online Group work
The Instructional Design team worked with Dr. Kelly L'Engle, Assistant Professor in the Population Health Sciences department, to bring her project-based course, Program Planning and Evaluation, online as part of the online Masters of Public Health Program.
Watch the video on Promoting Online Group work
Creating Multimedia Lessons (and Flipping your Face-to-Face Course)
Associate Professor Marie-Claude Couture, MS, PhD worked with USF’s Instructional Design Team during Summer, 2016 to transform her face-to-face masters course, Epidemiology, into online and hybrid versions for USF’s Master of Public Health program.