Teaching and learning resources brought to you by:Smeal’s eLearning Design & Innovation Group (eLDIG)
Engagement is like a box of chocolates…
Halloween candy and quality classroom engagement share a lot in common!
Variety Appeals to Different Tastes
- Halloween Candy: A good candy mix ensures that there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
- Classroom Engagement: Just like candy, a mix of activities like group discussions, hands-on projects, visual aids, and tech-based learning helps engage all students, not just a select few.
A Little Goes a Long Way
- Halloween Candy: Even a small handful of candy is enough! You don’t need to overindulge to feel satisfied.
- Classroom Engagement: You don’t always need an elaborate plan to engage students. Small, well-designed learning moments can go a long way in keeping students engaged and satisfied.
Immediate Gratification and Long-Term Impact
- Halloween Candy: Candy is a quick, enjoyable reward. But there’s also the lasting memory of the joy of sharing candy with friends.
- Course Content: Students experience immediate engagement when they can see its value in their lives, and that impact lasts as they apply what they’ve learned in meaningful ways.
Smeal Students Share What Creates Classroom Connection
This month’s podcast features students from Smeal’s brand-new BA 397 Business Communication Course, discussing their favorite classroom engagement strategies. They discuss everything from TopHat to AI to cold-calling in the classroom!
Podcasts are released frequently, and housed on our eLDIG website, or follow the Smeal Academy Podcast on your preferred podcatcher!
18
Smeal Academy GenAI Series – How AI is Reshaping the Landscape of Higher Education
October 18, 2024 from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Join Raymond Kusch, Founder and CEO of American Inference, and a Smeal Executive DBA student for this engaging session. Raymond will cover:
- a high-level overview of what faculty should know about AI
- the nature and capabilities of Generative AI
- top AI trends and their implications for education
- foundational knowledge and ethical considerations from an industry perspective
- critical concerns in higher education, including academic integrity and data privacy
As a special feature, Raymond will demonstrate Engaged Scholar, an innovative SaaS solution streamlining academic research.
Join us via Zoom.
23
Smeal Academy Session – Communication Skills for Teaching and Presenting with Andy Gustafson
October 23, 2024 from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Skilled staff and professors must possess technical AND communication skills that generate interest in their areas of expertise. This could mean the difference between success (or failure) in the classroom, earning a grant, or garnering support from the community regarding why your work matters. This session will introduce strategies required to garner audience interest and support.
Join us via Zoom.
4
Smeal Academy Roundtable Discussion: Why Aren’t They Paying Attention? Practical Approaches for Reaching Gen Z Students
November 4, 2024 from 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Who among us has not had moments of frustration staring out at a sea of young faces beaming looks of boredom or, worse, staring glassy eyed into their phones? Join other Smeal instructors and instructional designers to share experiences and discuss creative connection strategies for today’s higher ed. classroom.
Join us via Zoom.
Previous Smeal Academy session recordings can be viewed on the eLDIG website. You may want to watch our Smeal Academy session on suggestions for how to plan for asynchronous instruction on Election Day, November 5th.
Ask eLDIG: Simple Student Polling Solution?
Q:
A:
Yes! The Microsoft Forms "Quiz" feature can be used to quickly:
- identify gaps in student knowledge,
- guide classroom discussion, and
- engage students in learning content.
Polls can be set up with just a couple of clicks and students can access them easily via QR code or URL. Best of all, it’s built right into Penn State’s Office 365 suite, so creating engaging polls has never been easier!
Check out our latest Video Tech Tip to get started!
Have a question?
Email [email protected] and let us know!
We’re Here to Help!
We can help you with course design and redesign, educational technology tools such as Canvas, Zoom, and Kaltura, strategies for assessment and evaluation, instructional best practices, and the integration of Smeal College and University-wide resources.
Let’s start a conversation about how Smeal’s eLearning Design & Innovation Group can help you.
