2021-22 Teaching Circles

TYPE OF TEACHING CIRCLE 

OPEN or CLOSED 

NAME OF  

TEACHING CIRCLE 

BRIEF DESCRIPTION 

FACILITATOR 

DTC 

CLOSED 

Safety Sciences 

Establish a framework for a study, complete the study and prepare a publication. 

Wanda Minnick 

wanda.minnick@iup.edu  

CTC 

CLOSED 

Enhancing Learning of Students through use of Interprofessional Simulation 

Our team of six faculty members from three different colleges, with expertise in nursing, nutrition, speech-language pathology, and theater collaborate to bring our students together for simulation experiences that allow them to learn from and about each other. The members of this teaching circle collaborate and support each other on internal and external grant opportunities to more fully integrate simulation opportunities into the respective curricula and to continue to contribute to the existing simulation research that is available in each of our respective disciplines. 

Pao Ying Hsiao 

pyhsiao@iup.edu  

Erin Clark 

eclark@iup.edu  

DTC 

CLOSED 

Small Teaching Practices for Big Gains 

1) Reflect on current pedagogical practices, 2) Discuss models of small teaching in traditional, online, and clinical learning environments, and 3) Implement small activities that energize student engagement and increase comprehension of course topics. 

Meigan Robb 

mrobb@iup.edu  

DTC 

CLOSED 

Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice 

Improving Student Success Through Academic Advising 

Shannon Phaneuf 

spha@iup.edu  

Sadie Miller 

sadie.mummert@iup.edu  

CTC 

OPEN 

Online Teaching and Technology 

To provide best practices, tools, tips, and pedagogy for Online Teaching, Hybrid Teaching, and Blended formats of Teaching. To learn and share ideas and experiences related to online (and other modalities) of teaching and learning. 

Veronica Paz 

vpaz@iup.edu  

Jacqueline McGinty 

jmcginty@iup.edu  

DTC 

CLOSED 

Getting Things Done Teaching Circle 

To learn how to apply time management principles to academic work. 

Gian Pagnucci 

pagnucci@iup.edu  

CTC 

OPEN 

Mathematics and Computer Science Emerging Technology Teaching Circle 

The goals of this teaching circle focus on using emerging technology to enhance teaching and sharing of ideas in the classroom setting. 

John Chrispell 

jchrispe@iup.edu  

DTC 

OPEN 

Information Literacy Teaching Circle 

Using the book, "Instruction in Libraries and Information Centers: An Introduction" and especially concentrating on Chapter 18, “Point-of-need instruction: Teaching at the reference desk and in consultations” We will explore how to use our reference interactions as teaching opportunities. Also, we plan to develop a set of "how-to" documents for our chat reference interactions into mini-instruction sessions. 

Susan Drummond 

drummond@iup.edu  

Kelly Heider 

kheider@iup.edu  

CTC 

OPEN 

Teaching Transformative Texts 

Major works of literature, philosophy, historical sources, and religious books, as well as theatre, poetry, and song inform and inspire.  They encourage creative thinking, imaginative capacities, and problem solving.  Students (and the faculty that teach them) learn to see the world from different perspectives and thus world views are broadened.  This interactive workshop introduces participants to the ideas and approaches of transformative text teaching.  It is an opportunity to consider how to incorporate such texts across all disciplines. 

Lynn Botelho 

Botelho@iup.edu  

DTC 

CLOSED 

Improving Nursing Student Clinical Judgment 

Identify clinical judgment assessments that can be incorporated across the nursing curriculum; improve nursing students clinical judgment; identify further faculty development in the area of clinical judgment and nursing education. 

Taylor Edwards 

t.edwards@iup.edu  

CTC 

OPEN 

Mama Academia 

The academic work-life balance is made more challenging when offspring are added into the mix.  Derived from a Summer Academy session in the summer of 2021, this open forum exists to provide strategic support, guidance, resources, and collaboration in the unique mix of being a mother in Academia. 

Nancy Pipkin-Hutchinson 

npipkin@iup.edu  

CTC 

OPEN 

Integrating Digital Design and Rapid Prototyping into the Classroom 

This teaching circle will investigate strategies for integrating digital design and fabrication into the classroom. We will use Rhino 3D software to create digital files for rapid prototyping using a laser cutter, 3D printer, and CNC mill, with a focus on planning introductory projects for students and methods for instruction and assessment. These new technologies are becoming more widely available, and it is vital that our students are trained in their use. This teaching circle is open to any faculty member who is interested in including digital design and rapid prototyping in their curriculum. 

Sharon Massey 

smassey@iup.edu  

Sean Derry 

tvls@iup.edu  

DTC 

CLOSED 

Bridging Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship 

The overall goals for the Teaching Circle Bridging Teaching, Learning and Scholarship were to discuss, identify, and implement scholarly projects related to teaching technology-oriented mathematics and tracking success for mathematics courses. 

Valerie N Long 

vlong@iup.edu  

CTC 

OPEN 

Affordable and Open Educational Resources 

This teaching circle will discuss methods of promoting the adoption of affordable and open education resources on the IUP campus, including investigating models of faculty development support, grants available, and methods of documenting impact for faculty promotion and tenure. 

Theresa McDevitt 

mcdevitt@iup.edu  

Veronica Paz 

vpaz@iup.edu  

DTC 

CLOSED 

Sculpture Support System: Mentoring Students Through Social Practice 

Extracurricular mentoring of undergraduate art students through the collaborative production of participatory public art project. 

Sean Derry 

tvls@iup.edu  

Sharon Massey 

smassey@iup.edu  

CTC 

OPEN 

Improving food security among college students 

Food insecurity is a serious problem on college campuses and can negatively impact students' ability to succeed. College students in Food and Nutrition and other disciplines are being trained to address food insecurity and related health outcomes from many angles. This teaching circle will work to develop experiential learning for students in helping disciplines through developing education and outreach programs for actively enrolled college students struggling with food security. 

Theresa McDevitt 

mcdevitt@iup.edu  

CTC

CLOSED

Research and Writing

Maintain an active research agenda through goal setting and reporting.

Erin Conlin
elconlin@iup.edu

Rachel Sternfeld
ras@iup.edu

CTC

OPEN

Arduino Group

Develop a teaching plan to introduce Arduino. Run Workshops for IUP faculty and students who are interested in Arduino. 

Andrew Zhou 

FZHOU@IUP.EDU 

Frederick Adkins 

fadkins@iup.edu