We found 553 results that contain "classroom engagement"
Posted on: #iteachmsu
NAVIGATING CONTEXT
Trauma Informed Practice: Resources for Best Practices in the Classroom
This resource is meant to put information about trauma informed practices into the hands of faculty and instructors. Please see the digital flyer for more information. The references below were used in the creation of the flyer. Special thank you to Cheryl Williamns-Hecksel, Apryl Pooley and the Mental Health Committee (JED) for support in creating this resource.
References for Trauma Informed Practice Digital Flyer
Cusack SE, et al. (2019). Prevalence and predictors of PTSD among a college sample. J Am Coll Health. Feb-Mar;67(2):123-131. https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/29652647/
Read, J. P., Ouimette, P., White, J., Colder, C., & Farrow, S. (2011). Rates of DSM–IV–TR trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder among newly matriculated college students. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 3(2), 148–156. https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/25621098/
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4884. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014. https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/sma14-4884.pdf
https://istss.org/public-resources/trauma-basics/trauma-during-adulthood
Morissette SB, et al. (2021). The effects of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms on educational functioning in student veterans. Psychol Serv. Feb;18(1):124-133. https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/31192672/
Boyraz G et al. (2016). Posttraumatic stress, effort regulation, and academic outcomes among college students: A longitudinal study. J Couns Psychol. Jul;63(4):475-86. https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/26214096/
https://educationnorthwest.org/sites/default/files/resources/trauma-informed-practices-postsecondary-508.pdf
Racine N, Killam T, Madigan S. (2020). Trauma-Informed Care as a Universal Precaution: Beyond the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire. JAMA Pediatr. 174(1):5–6. https://jamanetwork-com.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2754104
References for Trauma Informed Practice Digital Flyer
Cusack SE, et al. (2019). Prevalence and predictors of PTSD among a college sample. J Am Coll Health. Feb-Mar;67(2):123-131. https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/29652647/
Read, J. P., Ouimette, P., White, J., Colder, C., & Farrow, S. (2011). Rates of DSM–IV–TR trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder among newly matriculated college students. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 3(2), 148–156. https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/25621098/
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4884. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014. https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/sma14-4884.pdf
https://istss.org/public-resources/trauma-basics/trauma-during-adulthood
Morissette SB, et al. (2021). The effects of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms on educational functioning in student veterans. Psychol Serv. Feb;18(1):124-133. https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/31192672/
Boyraz G et al. (2016). Posttraumatic stress, effort regulation, and academic outcomes among college students: A longitudinal study. J Couns Psychol. Jul;63(4):475-86. https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/26214096/
https://educationnorthwest.org/sites/default/files/resources/trauma-informed-practices-postsecondary-508.pdf
Racine N, Killam T, Madigan S. (2020). Trauma-Informed Care as a Universal Precaution: Beyond the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire. JAMA Pediatr. 174(1):5–6. https://jamanetwork-com.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2754104
Authored by:
A collaboration of Trauma Services and Training Network, ...

Posted on: #iteachmsu

Trauma Informed Practice: Resources for Best Practices in the Classroom
This resource is meant to put information about trauma informed pra...
Authored by:
NAVIGATING CONTEXT
Tuesday, Oct 19, 2021
Posted on: Teaching Toolkit Tailgate
PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN
10 Tips for Building a Culture of Civility in the Classroom
(If you model civility, your students will too.)
Generate an atmosphere of trust.
Keep appointments and office hours.
Demonstrate enthusiasm for the course and the subject.
Review course expectations through the syllabus.
Consider asking students to establish rules of behavior.
Be responsive to student questions.
Provide quality feedback, consider grading rubrics.
Model inclusive language that acknowledges student differences.
Decrease anonymity by learning students’ names.
Encourage active learning.
Why civility?
Promoting civility in the classroom environment promotes a safe environment that is conducive to learning. An environment that is conducive to learning is one where students are able to focus on what is being taught – in other words to learn.
KNOW…
The Code of Teaching Responsibility
“Satisfaction of teaching responsibilities by instructional staff members (herein referred to as instructors) is essential to the successful functioning of a university. This University conceives these responsibilities to be so important that performance by instructors in meeting the provisions of this Code shall be taken into consideration in determining salary increases, tenure, and promotion.”
For the full policy, please visit:
http://splife.studentlife.msu.edu/regulations/selected/code-of-teaching-responsibility
If you have questions,
Please contact the University Ombudsperson at ombud@msu.edu or (517) 353-8830
Generate an atmosphere of trust.
Keep appointments and office hours.
Demonstrate enthusiasm for the course and the subject.
Review course expectations through the syllabus.
Consider asking students to establish rules of behavior.
Be responsive to student questions.
Provide quality feedback, consider grading rubrics.
Model inclusive language that acknowledges student differences.
Decrease anonymity by learning students’ names.
Encourage active learning.
Why civility?
Promoting civility in the classroom environment promotes a safe environment that is conducive to learning. An environment that is conducive to learning is one where students are able to focus on what is being taught – in other words to learn.
KNOW…
The Code of Teaching Responsibility
“Satisfaction of teaching responsibilities by instructional staff members (herein referred to as instructors) is essential to the successful functioning of a university. This University conceives these responsibilities to be so important that performance by instructors in meeting the provisions of this Code shall be taken into consideration in determining salary increases, tenure, and promotion.”
For the full policy, please visit:
http://splife.studentlife.msu.edu/regulations/selected/code-of-teaching-responsibility
If you have questions,
Please contact the University Ombudsperson at ombud@msu.edu or (517) 353-8830
Authored by:
Shannon Burton
Posted on: Teaching Toolkit Tailgate
10 Tips for Building a Culture of Civility in the Classroom
(If you model civility, your students will too.)
Generate an atmos...
Generate an atmos...
Authored by:
PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN
Thursday, Jul 30, 2020
Posted on: MSU Online & Remote Teaching
PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN
Intentionally Creating an Inclusive and Welcoming Climate in Online Learning Classroom
Thanks to Philip Strong, who is an assistant dean in Lyman Briggs College (overseeing undergraduate academics, student affairs, and student support) as well as the leader of the East Neighborhood Engagement Center, which is the hub for the pilot of MSU’s Neighborhoods initiative, for sharing this resource from Sarah Marshall and her collaborators at Central Michigan University.
Authored by:
J.P. Humiston, S. M. Marshall, N. L. Hacker, L. M. Cantu

Posted on: MSU Online & Remote Teaching

Intentionally Creating an Inclusive and Welcoming Climate in Online Learning Classroom
Thanks to Philip Strong, who is an assistant dean in Lyman Briggs C...
Authored by:
PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN
Monday, Jul 6, 2020
Posted on: #iteachmsu
PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN
Benefits of Teaching a Large Course Using a Flipped Zoom Classroom
In Fall 2020, we conducted CSE 260 (Discrete Mathematics) as a flipped class, where students were expected to watch videos before class so that they could use class time to work together to solve problems. This class covers foundational mathematics for computer science and computer engineering students. Students need a lot of practice to master the methods and concepts. Unfortunately, these problems do not provide an instant feedback mechanism similar to programming projects. A flipped class where students work together in a group, along with regular assistance by the instructional team, provides such a mechanism. We surveyed students to gather their impressions on the course. Most students liked the flipped class structure and generally preferred it to a traditional lecture format. Furthermore, students reported it helped them develop friendships, something difficult to achieve in the Covid-era.
To access a PDF of the "Benefits of Teaching a Large Course Using a Flipped Zoom Classroom" poster, click here.Description of the Poster
CSE 260 Flipped Class (Lessons Learned)
Sandeep Kulkarni and Eric Torng
CSE 260: Discrete Mathematics
Topics Covered:
Propositional and predicate logic
Set Theory
Elementary Number theory and its applications to cryptography
Mathematical Induction
Counting and probability
Relations
Role in Curriculum
Foundational mathematics for computer science
Analog to calculus (continuous mathematics) for engineering and natural sciences
Why Flipped Class
Students need lots of practice to master the methods and concepts
Discrete math problems do not provide instant feedback to students if they do something wrong (unlike some programming errors such as a program failing to compile), so doing problems in class in groups helps students get quick feedback on any mistakes
For Fall 2020, student groups not only improved learning, they also created a sense of community for students who participated regularly.
80% of students responding to an end of semester survey reported they developed friendships through the homework groups
Flipped Class Design
Class enrollment roughly 200 (10-20% were outside the US, several in Asia)
Instructional Team
2 faculty, 6 TAs/ULAs
Online videos covered the core concepts
Each video had an associated homework assignment that would be worked on in class by student groups
Each video had an associated online quiz that every student was required to complete before working on the associated homework in class in groups
Homework group composition
20 groups, approximately 10 students per group
Group creation started about a month before the first class
Each student was asked to fill out a survey that asked two main things
Do you request specific group partners?
15% of students made such requests
What is your self-perceived math background and ability to lead a group discussion?
60% of students filled out the survey
Groups were created based on these responses (group partner requests and balancing self-perceived ability)
Groups did not change
Homework group technical support
Groups had a shared Google drive space for working on assignments
Groups had predefined Zoom breakout rooms
Some issues due to Zoom max of 200 participants for predefined breakout rooms
First Week Activities
The first week was focused on group work logistics and the daily structure
We discussed group roles and group dynamics
We had students practice their group collaboration on ungraded simple math exercises
We had several technical issues the first week including having to move roughly 80 students rather than the anticipated 20 students to their predefined Zoom breakout rooms
Daily Structure
At the end of every class, each group submitted a survey to identify (1) difficulties encountered, (2) their current status in solving the homework problems, (3) and their assessment of the group collaboration.
Before the next class, we prepared a few slides summarizing the responses in all three dimensions along with 2-3 quoted comments that best captured the current student sentiment.
At the start of the next class, we spent roughly 20 minutes covering those slides.
Afterwards, groups began their collaborative work in their assigned breakout rooms
The instructional team moved through the groups to help as needed for both content and to enforce good group dynamics.
The work done in class was submitted as (lightly graded) homework to ensure that it was completed
Common Difficulties
Internet issues
Some students not watching the videos before class
Freeloaders: some students not participating on a regular basis but getting the same homework grade leads to resentment from those that do participate.
Groups were not perfectly synchronized; leading groups might be 2-3 assignments ahead of trailing groups.
Lessons Learned
# instructional staff needs to be about 1/3 # of groups
This implies we can have at most ~20 groups with current instructional staff size
Need better mechanisms to address freeloaders
Perhaps more frequent individual assessments to ensure all students are participating and learning
Each class/week must have specific deliverables to ensure group synchronization
Stricter enforcement of requirements to watch videos before class
Survey
Administered by Qualtrics
Roughly 1/3 of students (65) responded
Selected Comments
I think the flipped model is much more effective when it has to be online and potentially I think it could work when in person classes are able to be taught again. I think some students learn a bit differently than others so I think having the option of flipped classes (maybe every other semester) could be beneficial to some and hindering to others.
I feel like there would be more participation if the flipped class happened in person rather than zoom. People would likely hold themselves more accountable.
I think the reason group work helped me learn was because it was over zoom. This way everyone is able to see a screen and hear each other. If it had been an in-person flipped class it would have been more difficult to communicate with such a large group, so groups would have to be smaller. The people sitting furthest away from wherever the work is being done would not participate. I think I learned the most when I was doing problems as a group.
Flipped classroom in person is very nice. For example CMSE 201, 202 and STT 180 all do very nice jobs of balancing the in class work and the pout of class lecture. Also, having TA's walking around to help is very nice.
Information from Graphs
Most students preferred flipped class
There was a preference towards flipped in-person class
Most students reported that they learnt a great deal from their peers
49% students preferred flipped class, 5% preferred any option, Remaining students were ok with either.
To access a PDF of the "Benefits of Teaching a Large Course Using a Flipped Zoom Classroom" poster, click here.Description of the Poster
CSE 260 Flipped Class (Lessons Learned)
Sandeep Kulkarni and Eric Torng
CSE 260: Discrete Mathematics
Topics Covered:
Propositional and predicate logic
Set Theory
Elementary Number theory and its applications to cryptography
Mathematical Induction
Counting and probability
Relations
Role in Curriculum
Foundational mathematics for computer science
Analog to calculus (continuous mathematics) for engineering and natural sciences
Why Flipped Class
Students need lots of practice to master the methods and concepts
Discrete math problems do not provide instant feedback to students if they do something wrong (unlike some programming errors such as a program failing to compile), so doing problems in class in groups helps students get quick feedback on any mistakes
For Fall 2020, student groups not only improved learning, they also created a sense of community for students who participated regularly.
80% of students responding to an end of semester survey reported they developed friendships through the homework groups
Flipped Class Design
Class enrollment roughly 200 (10-20% were outside the US, several in Asia)
Instructional Team
2 faculty, 6 TAs/ULAs
Online videos covered the core concepts
Each video had an associated homework assignment that would be worked on in class by student groups
Each video had an associated online quiz that every student was required to complete before working on the associated homework in class in groups
Homework group composition
20 groups, approximately 10 students per group
Group creation started about a month before the first class
Each student was asked to fill out a survey that asked two main things
Do you request specific group partners?
15% of students made such requests
What is your self-perceived math background and ability to lead a group discussion?
60% of students filled out the survey
Groups were created based on these responses (group partner requests and balancing self-perceived ability)
Groups did not change
Homework group technical support
Groups had a shared Google drive space for working on assignments
Groups had predefined Zoom breakout rooms
Some issues due to Zoom max of 200 participants for predefined breakout rooms
First Week Activities
The first week was focused on group work logistics and the daily structure
We discussed group roles and group dynamics
We had students practice their group collaboration on ungraded simple math exercises
We had several technical issues the first week including having to move roughly 80 students rather than the anticipated 20 students to their predefined Zoom breakout rooms
Daily Structure
At the end of every class, each group submitted a survey to identify (1) difficulties encountered, (2) their current status in solving the homework problems, (3) and their assessment of the group collaboration.
Before the next class, we prepared a few slides summarizing the responses in all three dimensions along with 2-3 quoted comments that best captured the current student sentiment.
At the start of the next class, we spent roughly 20 minutes covering those slides.
Afterwards, groups began their collaborative work in their assigned breakout rooms
The instructional team moved through the groups to help as needed for both content and to enforce good group dynamics.
The work done in class was submitted as (lightly graded) homework to ensure that it was completed
Common Difficulties
Internet issues
Some students not watching the videos before class
Freeloaders: some students not participating on a regular basis but getting the same homework grade leads to resentment from those that do participate.
Groups were not perfectly synchronized; leading groups might be 2-3 assignments ahead of trailing groups.
Lessons Learned
# instructional staff needs to be about 1/3 # of groups
This implies we can have at most ~20 groups with current instructional staff size
Need better mechanisms to address freeloaders
Perhaps more frequent individual assessments to ensure all students are participating and learning
Each class/week must have specific deliverables to ensure group synchronization
Stricter enforcement of requirements to watch videos before class
Survey
Administered by Qualtrics
Roughly 1/3 of students (65) responded
Selected Comments
I think the flipped model is much more effective when it has to be online and potentially I think it could work when in person classes are able to be taught again. I think some students learn a bit differently than others so I think having the option of flipped classes (maybe every other semester) could be beneficial to some and hindering to others.
I feel like there would be more participation if the flipped class happened in person rather than zoom. People would likely hold themselves more accountable.
I think the reason group work helped me learn was because it was over zoom. This way everyone is able to see a screen and hear each other. If it had been an in-person flipped class it would have been more difficult to communicate with such a large group, so groups would have to be smaller. The people sitting furthest away from wherever the work is being done would not participate. I think I learned the most when I was doing problems as a group.
Flipped classroom in person is very nice. For example CMSE 201, 202 and STT 180 all do very nice jobs of balancing the in class work and the pout of class lecture. Also, having TA's walking around to help is very nice.
Information from Graphs
Most students preferred flipped class
There was a preference towards flipped in-person class
Most students reported that they learnt a great deal from their peers
49% students preferred flipped class, 5% preferred any option, Remaining students were ok with either.
Authored by:
Eric Torng, Sandeep Kulkarni

Posted on: #iteachmsu

Benefits of Teaching a Large Course Using a Flipped Zoom Classroom
In Fall 2020, we conducted CSE 260 (Discrete Mathematics) as a flip...
Authored by:
PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN
Thursday, May 6, 2021
Posted on: Spring Conference on Teaching & Learning
PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN
Exploring the effects of the flipped classroom approach in an undergraduate lab math course
Title: Exploring the effects of the flipped classroom approach in an undergraduate lab math coursePresenters: Jun Fu (Neighborhood Student Success Collaborative); Angela Wholehan (Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program); Julie Libarkin (Associate Dean for STEM Education Research and Innovation)Format: Paper PresentationDate: May 11th, 2023Time: 1:30pm - 2:30pmClick here to viewDescription:The flipped classroom approach has been applied as an instructional strategy to enhance active learning and critical thinking – even in basic science courses. During this past year, the participants of a MSU faculty learning community has collaboratively designed and implemented an action research study to examine the effects of a flipped classroom approach on students' integration and application of content knowledge, sense of belonging, and critical thinking skills in an undergraduate lab math course. This presentation will share the findings of this work and implications on the assessment of student learning in the STEM context.
Authored by:
Jun Fu

Posted on: Spring Conference on Teaching & Learning

Exploring the effects of the flipped classroom approach in an undergraduate lab math course
Title: Exploring the effects of the flipped classroom approach in a...
Authored by:
PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Posted on: #iteachmsu
PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN
Why Won't They Talk? Building an Inclusive (and even, on-line) Classroom for Multilingual Learners
Topic Area: Information Session
Presented By: Joyce Meier
Abstract:
Our international/multilingual students face unique challenges: not only differences in language and academic cultures, but also time differences, online communication blocks, visa issues, and the recent toxic nationalist movement in the U.S. Yet we need the diverse views that such students contribute. How can we ensure that these students feel welcome and included in our courses, even when the courses are on-line, and the students studying from 12 hours away? How can we encourage our multilingual students to participate more, both synchronously and asynchronously? What can we do to minimize any possible communicative gaps? How might our courses be reframed from a translingual perspective, so that the students’ languages and cultures are seen as assets that contribute to rather than detract from the course learning goals? Supported by a Creating Inclusive Excellence Grant, and winner of a Research-in-Progress Award at the recent Diversity Showcase, our team of three undergraduates, as mentored by two faculty, has produced a video examining these challenges ‘from the inside out.’ Surfacing the students’ concerns, our faculty workshop uses this video as a starting point to name challenges faced by these diverse learners, and for collaboratively inviting participants to propose solutions that work within their own teaching contexts.
Presented By: Joyce Meier
Abstract:
Our international/multilingual students face unique challenges: not only differences in language and academic cultures, but also time differences, online communication blocks, visa issues, and the recent toxic nationalist movement in the U.S. Yet we need the diverse views that such students contribute. How can we ensure that these students feel welcome and included in our courses, even when the courses are on-line, and the students studying from 12 hours away? How can we encourage our multilingual students to participate more, both synchronously and asynchronously? What can we do to minimize any possible communicative gaps? How might our courses be reframed from a translingual perspective, so that the students’ languages and cultures are seen as assets that contribute to rather than detract from the course learning goals? Supported by a Creating Inclusive Excellence Grant, and winner of a Research-in-Progress Award at the recent Diversity Showcase, our team of three undergraduates, as mentored by two faculty, has produced a video examining these challenges ‘from the inside out.’ Surfacing the students’ concerns, our faculty workshop uses this video as a starting point to name challenges faced by these diverse learners, and for collaboratively inviting participants to propose solutions that work within their own teaching contexts.
Authored by:
Joyce Meier

Posted on: #iteachmsu

Why Won't They Talk? Building an Inclusive (and even, on-line) Classroom for Multilingual Learners
Topic Area: Information Session
Presented By: Joyce Meier
Abst...
Presented By: Joyce Meier
Abst...
Authored by:
PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN
Monday, May 3, 2021
Posted on: New Technologies
Flipgrid: Bringing Conversation to Online Learning
If you are looking for ways to bring some life back into your remote or blended instruction, Flipgrid may be the tool for you. At its core it is a video conversation tool, but in practice it is something much more. So let me point out some of the features that I think you will like about Flipgrid.
Free Educational Accounts: That's right! Since MSU is on Office365, all MSU faculty, staff, and students have Outlook accounts; which are recognized as Microsoft accounts. Therefore, you can use MSU email to setup your free flipgrid account
Classroom Structrure: Flipgrid uses the term "Grid" to refer to a community space. For educational purposes, think of the Grid as a representation of your classroom. In each Grid, you can create collection of topics. Think of the "Topics" as your class assignments.
Rich Posting Features: By default, video posts are 1:30, but you can make them longer or shorter. This helps to make every student post an equal length ; and encourages students to organize their thoughts ahead of time. Here are some features related to posting that make it fun:
Abilty to add text and sticky notes to your video posts
Apply different color themes, backgrounds, pixelate faces, etc
Students can also add emojis
Detailed Feedback: Instructor can provide feedback on student videos. Students can provide feedback on other student videos. Rubric can be applied to the prompt. Students can see how many views there videos are getting.
Topic Repository: Lastly, there is a content library filled with discipline specifc content created by educators in the Flipgrid community that instructors can use in their own student Topics (assignments). These can be filtered by Audience, Subject, and Keyword. Each of these Topics contain information about the usage and the engagment scores.
These are just some the cool features that I have come across on flip grid. If you would like a thorough overview of the tool, check out this tutorial by the New EdTech Classroom:
Free Educational Accounts: That's right! Since MSU is on Office365, all MSU faculty, staff, and students have Outlook accounts; which are recognized as Microsoft accounts. Therefore, you can use MSU email to setup your free flipgrid account
Classroom Structrure: Flipgrid uses the term "Grid" to refer to a community space. For educational purposes, think of the Grid as a representation of your classroom. In each Grid, you can create collection of topics. Think of the "Topics" as your class assignments.
Rich Posting Features: By default, video posts are 1:30, but you can make them longer or shorter. This helps to make every student post an equal length ; and encourages students to organize their thoughts ahead of time. Here are some features related to posting that make it fun:
Abilty to add text and sticky notes to your video posts
Apply different color themes, backgrounds, pixelate faces, etc
Students can also add emojis
Detailed Feedback: Instructor can provide feedback on student videos. Students can provide feedback on other student videos. Rubric can be applied to the prompt. Students can see how many views there videos are getting.
Topic Repository: Lastly, there is a content library filled with discipline specifc content created by educators in the Flipgrid community that instructors can use in their own student Topics (assignments). These can be filtered by Audience, Subject, and Keyword. Each of these Topics contain information about the usage and the engagment scores.
These are just some the cool features that I have come across on flip grid. If you would like a thorough overview of the tool, check out this tutorial by the New EdTech Classroom:
Authored by:
Rashad Muhammad

Posted on: New Technologies

Flipgrid: Bringing Conversation to Online Learning
If you are looking for ways to bring some life back into your remot...
Authored by:
Saturday, Jun 13, 2020
Posted on: Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation
NAVIGATING CONTEXT
Educator of Impact: Monica Mills
Monica Mills, the Engagement Assessment Development Specialist at Michigan State University’s Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation [CTLI], brings a unique blend of psychology, cognitive science, and educational expertise to her role. Her journey into this field wasn’t a straight path but rather a series of explorations that shaped her deep understanding of how people learn and how they can be better engaged in the classroom.
Growing up in Central Florida, Monica’s early interests ranged from becoming a high school teacher to an animal behaviorist. It wasn’t until she encountered the field of psychology at the University of Central Florida that she found her true calling. “Cognition and behavior can be analyzed and changed was very interesting to me,” Monica shared, reflecting on her fascination with cognitive psychology. Her curiosity led her to pursue graduate education in psychology at the University of Nebraska, where she delved into the nuances of human attention, perception and environmental factors that shape thinking.
Monica’s transition from academia to instructional design was driven by a desire to apply her knowledge of cognitive psychology from the research lab to real-world educational challenges. Now, with her experience in research, teaching, and instructional design, she is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Her role at CTLI allows her to make a significant impact on the way education is delivered, particularly in fostering student engagement and enhancing instructional practices.
In her role at CTLI, Monica draws upon her diverse experience to foster meaningful engagement in the classroom. Her time as an adjunct professor at Alma College provided her with invaluable insights into the challenges instructors face. “You can say to instructors all day long what the textbook says you need to do, but unless you’ve felt those pushbacks in the classroom, you don’t have a leg to stand on,” she explained. This hands-on experience has been instrumental in her ability to relate to professors and offer practical, empathetic advice.
One of Monica’s most memorable projects, a research project that spanned three years, involved experimenting with different instructional approaches to improve student engagement. “Does giving autonomy and choice to students improve engagement?” was the research question Monica sought to answer. The results were clear: small changes can have significant impacts. This experience solidified her belief in the power of experimentation and the importance of giving students a voice in their own learning journey.
At the heart of Monica’s work is a commitment to transparency and inclusivity. She believes that no student should be left in the dark about how they are being assessed. Her dedication to creating equitable learning environments is evident in her advocacy for ‘Transparent Assignment Design’, where she explains a framework that provides clear expectations and support for students.“It’s about making clear the expectations in how students are being assessed ,” Monica emphasized, underscoring her belief in the importance of student-centered education.
Looking ahead, Monica remains passionate about innovation in education. Whether it’s experimenting with new assessment techniques or exploring the potential of educational technology, she is constantly “tinkering” with ways to improve the learning experience. For Monica, success in higher education is not about reaching a final destination but about the journey of continuous improvement and discovery.
Growing up in Central Florida, Monica’s early interests ranged from becoming a high school teacher to an animal behaviorist. It wasn’t until she encountered the field of psychology at the University of Central Florida that she found her true calling. “Cognition and behavior can be analyzed and changed was very interesting to me,” Monica shared, reflecting on her fascination with cognitive psychology. Her curiosity led her to pursue graduate education in psychology at the University of Nebraska, where she delved into the nuances of human attention, perception and environmental factors that shape thinking.
Monica’s transition from academia to instructional design was driven by a desire to apply her knowledge of cognitive psychology from the research lab to real-world educational challenges. Now, with her experience in research, teaching, and instructional design, she is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Her role at CTLI allows her to make a significant impact on the way education is delivered, particularly in fostering student engagement and enhancing instructional practices.
In her role at CTLI, Monica draws upon her diverse experience to foster meaningful engagement in the classroom. Her time as an adjunct professor at Alma College provided her with invaluable insights into the challenges instructors face. “You can say to instructors all day long what the textbook says you need to do, but unless you’ve felt those pushbacks in the classroom, you don’t have a leg to stand on,” she explained. This hands-on experience has been instrumental in her ability to relate to professors and offer practical, empathetic advice.
One of Monica’s most memorable projects, a research project that spanned three years, involved experimenting with different instructional approaches to improve student engagement. “Does giving autonomy and choice to students improve engagement?” was the research question Monica sought to answer. The results were clear: small changes can have significant impacts. This experience solidified her belief in the power of experimentation and the importance of giving students a voice in their own learning journey.
At the heart of Monica’s work is a commitment to transparency and inclusivity. She believes that no student should be left in the dark about how they are being assessed. Her dedication to creating equitable learning environments is evident in her advocacy for ‘Transparent Assignment Design’, where she explains a framework that provides clear expectations and support for students.“It’s about making clear the expectations in how students are being assessed ,” Monica emphasized, underscoring her belief in the importance of student-centered education.
Looking ahead, Monica remains passionate about innovation in education. Whether it’s experimenting with new assessment techniques or exploring the potential of educational technology, she is constantly “tinkering” with ways to improve the learning experience. For Monica, success in higher education is not about reaching a final destination but about the journey of continuous improvement and discovery.
Authored by:
Cara Mack

Posted on: Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation

Educator of Impact: Monica Mills
Monica Mills, the Engagement Assessment Development Specialist at M...
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NAVIGATING CONTEXT
Monday, Sep 9, 2024