Current Projects in the Center for Pedagogical Innovation
Digital Intro
Welcome to “digital intro”, a new approach to teaching where introductory courses can be transformed into active, project-based experiences. We are carefully designing projects to expose students to a wide range of digital skills as they learn traditional disciplinary content. Within our digital “intro to psychology” course, students have explored concepts and content in the field of psychology through video storytelling, programming, data visualization, web development, design and more. This novel curriculum solidifies new content knowledge, exposes students to modern digital tools and also provides them with the opportunity to create tangible artifacts of their learning.
To free up valuable class time for collaborative work, we need to “flip” the classroom and provide relevant, compelling, sharable content traditionally covered during in-class lectures as digital lessons that can be viewed outside of class. What better approach than to have students create these digital lessons?! The goal is learning through the creation of “stunning acts of communication”, an idea that is both aspirational and we believe, wholly achievable. Even more than introducing students to a discipline, “digital intro” creates opportunities to learn leading digital tools and software platforms that empower students to enter the modern digital workforce.
Documentary on students making video lecture content
Video: Biological Bases of Behavior
Video: Learning
Video: Sensation and Perception
Video: Development
Video: Social Psychology
Universal Design for Instruction
Universal design is anchored in the concepts of equitable access and full participation. Applied to instruction, this framework can be used to assist in course planning and assessment of student learning outcomes using strategies and tools that address the diverse needs of our students both cognitively and physically. CPI holds workshops and one-on-one meetings with faculty to help fine tune (or create) courses that utilizes the principles of Universal Design.
Active Learning
CPI staff work with faculty to develop pedagogical tools to encourage greater student engagement in the classroom. Examples of active learning methods include, but are not limited to, using team-based or problem-based learning, introducing group work or small-group exercises, analyzing case studies, and employing classroom assessment techniques in class.
Telepresence
CPI staff support faculty who would like to use classroom technology allow the students in their class on campus to engage with classes in other parts of the world. Here is an article about a recent Spanish course with Professor Antonio Gonzalez that collaborated with a class in Madrid.