What is the IT Community of Practice?

The IT Community of Practice (ITCoP) is a Faculty Fellow initiative that provides an opportunity for faculty to bring their lunch and join colleagues in demonstration and discussion on trends and issues in instructional technology.

Student Engagement: High-Tech, Low-Tech and No-Tech Approaches

Throughout the 2019-20 academic year, the IT Community of Practice (ITCoP) will feature host faculty and GTA presenters sharing techniques and strategies for engaging students in and out of class, via flipped, face-to-face, and online course delivery. UTK faculty and teaching GTAs are invited to attend the demonstrations and join in the discussions featuring the impact of high, low, or no technologies on student engagement. The meetings will be held on the 4th Wednesdays in the Hodges Library Practice Presentation Room (220E), from 12:20-1:10pm. 

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Spring 2020

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February 26:

Engaging Students Inside the Class: High-Tech, Low-Tech and No-Tech Approaches

Presenters:

• Jeni Wallace, English – Using polling apps and phones to engage students in the classroom
• Terri Durbin, Nursing – Creating escape rooms to engage students in the classroom

March 25:

Engaging Students Outside the Class: High-Tech, Low-Tech and No-Tech Approaches 

Presenters:

• Beth Meredith, English – Using service learning to engage students outside of the classroom
• Jedediah Blanton, Kinesiology/Sport Psychology  – Using gaming to engage students outside of the classroom 

April 22:

Engaging Students Online: High-Tech and Low-Tech Approaches

Presenters:

• Alex Feldt, Philosophy – Using Case Studies and Discussions to Engage Students in Online Courses
• Anne Ho and Karin Pringle, Math –  Successes and Failures Zooming Online: Real Experiences from Teaching Synchronous Online Classes

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Fall 2019

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September 25:

Engaging Students Inside the Class: High-Tech, Low-Tech and No-Tech Approaches

Presenters:

• Jennifer Hewerdine, Student Success/English – Jigsaw Groups  
• Sally Harris, English, 2019-20 OIT Faculty Fellow – Traditional and Online Engagement
• Ryan Windeknecht, Philosophy, 2019-20 OIT Faculty Fellow – Gaming 
• OIT Support Staff: Classroom equipment and digital devices for in-class engagement

October 23:

Engaging Students Outside the Class: High-Tech, Low-Tech and No-Tech Approaches 

Presenters:

• Julia McLeod, English – Journaling with Spark
• Will Schleter, Engineering Fundamentals – Interactive Web Exercises in the Flipped Classroom
• Brian Gligor, Theater – Technology for a Field That is Human:  Engaging Students Outside of the Classroom.

November 20: 

NOTE: Meeting on 3rd Wednesday due to Thanksgiving Holiday

Engaging Students Online: High Tech and Low-Tech Approaches

Presenters:

• Brian Stevens, Business Analytics and Statistics – Engaging Students in a Large, Synchronous Online Class
• Marina Maccari-Clayton, History – Engaging Students with Role-Playing Games and Slack