2025 UP-TLC: Full Schedule

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9:00am EDT

Active Learning and Examination Window Assessment Strategies in Large Class

Friday May 9, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am EDT

This interactive workshop will explore effective strategies for implementing active learning in large classes and in classrooms not originally designed to support such methods. The session will begin with a presentation that highlights how spatial awareness and attention to students’ perceived learning moods have been used to design and integrate a variety of active learning strategies in introductory human geography courses.
The presenter will share insights into which strategies appear to be most effective, which are less successful, and what these outcomes suggest for best practices in large-class environments. In addition, the session will examine the use of an "examination window" approach and flexible deadlines as tools to promote deeper engagement with course content and reduce student stress.
The examination window model involves quizzes delivered through the course learning management system, structured with a variety of question types and accessible over a three-day period. Students are allowed up to three attempts per quiz, with the highest score recorded, and may request additional attempts as needed—providing further flexibility in the learning process. The presentation will include reflections on the strengths and challenges of this approach and its impact on student performance.
Following the presentation, participants will engage in structured small-group discussions aimed at generating ideas for addressing the challenges associated with implementing active learning and flexible assessment in similar instructional settings.

Speakers

Jelili Adegboyega Adebiy

Northern Michigan University

Friday May 9, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am EDT
TBA

Active Learning

9:00am EDT

Crafting Coders: Utilizing Knitting in the Classroom to Foster Computational Thinking Skills

Friday May 9, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am EDT

This workshop introduces participants to computational thinking and programming concepts through the craft of knitting. Participants will learn basic knitting and how to read a knitting pattern. We will draw parallels between knitting and core programming concepts such as functions, variables, loops, algorithms, and debugging. Participants in this workshop will explore how structured patterns in knitting relate to computational logic. If time permits, they will recreate a knitting pattern using a visual programming environment like Scratch. In all, we hope to inspire teachers to use crafting activities in their classrooms as an engaging, interdisciplinary approach to learning programming.

Speakers

Michelle Jarvie-Eggart

Assistant Professor, Michigan Technological University

Dr. Jarvie-Eggart approaches teaching and research from a liberation pedagogy. She believes in the empowering value of education in both students and faculty and is committed to creating an inclusive campus environment for everyone. Dr. Jarvie-Eggart's research interests lie in supporting... Read More →

Leo C. Ureel II

Assistant Professor Computer Science / Cognitive & Learning Sciences, Michigan Technological University

Daniel Masker

Graduate Student, Michigan Technological University

Laura Brown

Michigan Technological University

Yasmin Fitzgerald

Undergraduate Student, Michigan Technological University

Briana Bettin

Michigan Technological University

Joe Teahan

Michigan Technological University

Friday May 9, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am EDT

Active Learning

9:00am EDT

Faculty Perspectives on Teaching with AI: Lessons from a Pilot Course

Friday May 9, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am EDT

TBA

As artificial intelligence tools rapidly evolve, instructors are seeking meaningful ways to adapt their teaching practices while preserving academic integrity and learning outcomes. In this session, a panel of faculty participants from the inaugural Integrating AI and Instruction course will share their experiences exploring the pedagogical and ethical dimensions of generative AI in higher education. These faculty members were the first to complete the course, which guided them through the process of understanding AI capabilities, evaluating its implications for learning, and redesigning assignments to align with the realities of AI-enhanced academic work. Attendees will see real examples of redesigned assignments and hear reflections on how the course influenced instructional choices, assessment strategies, and student engagement.

Friday May 9, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am EDT
TBA

AI in Education

9:00am EDT

Accommodations in Nursing: Addressing Barriers for Individuals with Physical Disabilities

Friday May 9, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am EDT

TBA

This IRB approved study explored the experience of those students with physical disabilities during nursing school. Through qualitative research, interviews were conducted to identify themes related to disclosure of disabilities, available accommodations, and practice implications. Overarching themes identified included: disclosure, advocacy, appreciation, overcoming barriers, and flexibility vs boundaries. During this presentation, research findings will be reviewed and a facilitated discussion will explore strategies for successful interaction between faculty and students with disabilities.

Speakers

Katie Menard

Dr., Northern Michigan University

Jeanette Stebelton

Assistant Professor, Northern Michigan University

Nursing faculty, RN to BSN Coordinator.

Friday May 9, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am EDT
TBA

Inclusive Teaching

9:00am EDT

Beyond Carrots and Sticks: Competency Based Grading and Narrative Assessments

Friday May 9, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am EDT

TBA

While grades do have their place and are important on transcripts, what do they actually tell us about a student’s understanding of the subject matter? Traditional grading methods can have a tendency toward reward or punishment and the “one and done” model of testing does not always encourage learning. I will present two alternative models of assessment: Competency Based Grading and Narrative Assessment. These forms of assessment provide students with task-involving feedback, opportunities to resubmit assignments multiple times and retake exams until skill is achieved and, hopefully, goals beyond the grade.

Speakers

Libby Meyer

Teaching Professor, Visual and Performing Arts, Michigan Technological University

Friday May 9, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am EDT
TBA

Innovative Strategies

10:00am EDT

Incorporating a Semester Long Video Project: Insights, Reflections, and Lessons Learned

Friday May 9, 2025 10:00am - 10:25am EDT

This session will detail and reflect on the implementation of a semester-long video project as an active learning strategy in a Public Anthropology course at Northern Michigan University (NMU). Throughout the semester, students collaborated in small groups to produce a 3-5 minute video that highlighted NMU’s anthropology program and faculty. The goal of this project was to engage students in a hands-on, creative process that both reinforced their understanding of course content and introduced/enhanced their technical skills in public visual anthropology. This session will provide participants with both faculty and student perspectives on the process and outcomes; three students and one professor will share the objectives, outcomes, challenges, and benefits of using such a project.

Speakers

Meghan Y. McCune

Northern Michigan University

Livia Dietrichson

Northern Michigan University

Joseph Allen

Northern Michigan University

Meghan Niemi

Northern Michigan University

Friday May 9, 2025 10:00am - 10:25am EDT

Active Learning

10:00am EDT

AI as a Design Partner: Enhancing Online Course Development

Friday May 9, 2025 10:00am - 10:25am EDT

TBA

The rise of generative AI in higher education presents both challenges and opportunities. While concerns about academic integrity often dominate discussions, AI can also serve as a valuable design support tool for course development. This session explores how to responsibly integrate AI into online course design to enhance curriculum structure, generate instructional content, and develop assessments. Drawing from my experience designing an asynchronous, online workplace assessment course with AI, I will demonstrate practical applications such as creating discussion prompts, quizzes, case studies, and interactive activities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies for leveraging AI while maintaining pedagogical quality and oversight.

Speakers

Dr. Athena Stanley

Assistant Professor, Northern Michigan University

Friday May 9, 2025 10:00am - 10:25am EDT
TBA

AI in Education

10:00am EDT

COVID Teaching Plan: To the Rescue?

Friday May 9, 2025 10:00am - 10:25am EDT

TBA

The COVID pandemic disrupted teaching and learning along with most of daily life. In response, teachers made many adaptations to teaching strategies to accommodate imposed limits to in-person teaching. Retrospectively, we also learned of the negative impacts to many students and faculty – higher rates of anxiety, depression, and impacts on academics. Winter 2025, I was sick for much of the first part of the semester. I was able to continue teaching by using strategies I developed during the COVID shutdown. However, I was left wondering if my students were impacted in ways that I could not easily identify.

Speakers

Terry Delpier

Northern Michigan University

NMU Pediatric Nursing FacultyPoverty Simulation & SoTL

Friday May 9, 2025 10:00am - 10:25am EDT
TBA

Inclusive Teaching

10:00am EDT

Enhancing Empathy in Nursing Education: The Impact of Immersive Virtual Reality Simulations

Friday May 9, 2025 10:00am - 10:25am EDT

TBA

Empathy and awareness of patients’ experiences are essential in nursing care. This study examined whether immersive virtual reality (VR) simulations enhance empathy in nursing students by allowing them to embody patients with various conditions. Using a quasi-experimental design, Bachelor of Science in Nursing students completed the Kiersma-Chen Empathy Modified Scale before and after VR experiences. Results showed a significant increase in empathy scores, suggesting that VR simulations effectively enhance nursing students’ empathy. These findings support the integration of VR in nursing education to improve patient-centered care.

Speakers

Michelle Andriacchi

Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Northern Michigan University

Casey Hopper

Assistant Professor, Northern Michigan University

Sarah Jennings

Associate Professor, Northern Michigan University

Kristen Smith

Associate Professor, Northern Michigan University

Dr. Lisa S Flood

Professor/Teaching Learning Scholar, Northern Michigan University

Friday May 9, 2025 10:00am - 10:25am EDT
TBA

Innovative Strategies

10:00am EDT

Transitioning Student Leadership in a Peer Mentoring Program

Friday May 9, 2025 10:00am - 10:25am EDT

TBA

When running a peer mentoring program, it is important to ensure that the mentors are prepared for their roles and that a plan is in place for the continuity of the program. The Learning with Academic Partners (LEAP) program hires 50-60 near peer mentors each year to assist first-year engineering students. Our program implements student leadership in the running of the program. These student leaders assist with the day-to-day tasks, training, professional development, and hiring of our peer mentors. This presentation will focus on the strategies we use to ensure continuity in student leadership as these student leaders graduate.

Speakers

AJ Hamlin

Teaching Professor - Engineering Fundamentals, Michigan Technological University

Amber Kemppainen

Michigan Technological University

Friday May 9, 2025 10:00am - 10:25am EDT
TBA

Innovative Strategies

10:40am EDT

Learning from Each Other: How to Create Online Discussion Activities that Promote Student Learning and Motivation

Friday May 9, 2025 10:40am - 11:30am EDT

Online discussion forums can be an effective way to support student interaction and engagement, but they can also become stale and repetitive. In this session, I will discuss how to create effective online discussion activities that encourage students to interact with each other in meaningful ways that support learning. This session will be most helpful to instructors who are looking for ways to increase student interaction outside of in-person class sessions or who are interested in adding or improving discussion activities in their online courses.

Speakers

Catharine Gruver

Instructional Designer, Michigan Technological University

Friday May 9, 2025 10:40am - 11:30am EDT

Active Learning

10:40am EDT

Using Small Group Activities to Identify and Resolve Misconceptions

Friday May 9, 2025 10:40am - 11:30am EDT

As an instructor, I’ve observed that one of the best ways to reveal how well students understand something is to listen to them discussing it with other students. To address common misconceptions in multivariable calculus, I periodically have students use class time to complete small group activities that elicit productive conversations about tricky topics. In this session I will describe 3 such activities.

Speakers

Teresa Woods

Michigan Technological University

Friday May 9, 2025 10:40am - 11:30am EDT

Active Learning

10:40am EDT

Generative AI Cyber Infrastructure for Construction Education

Friday May 9, 2025 10:40am - 11:30am EDT

The MTU team’s ongoing NSF CyberTraining project addresses the construction industry’s low digitalization level and long-standing challenges, such as low productivity, ineffective collaboration, and a lack of digital skills. Broadening the adoption of digital technologies and cyber-infrastructures (CI) is essential for the industry’s future success. Building Information Modeling (BIM), a key CI, enables the creation of digital representations of facilities’ physical and functional characteristics. This pilot project aims to develop a cognitive and generative AI-driven CI training platform by integrating advanced BIM skills into undergraduate construction programs. The knowledge gained will establish a foundation for understanding how generative AI can support intelligent tutoring in engineering education, including construction, civil, and electrical engineering. This initiative could help address the nation’s labor shortage by equipping future professionals with essential digital skills, ultimately revolutionizing construction operations and workforce development.

Speakers

Shane Mueller

Professor, Michigan Technological University

Bo Xiao

Assistant Professor, Michigan Technological University

A researcher in construciton informatics and education.

Friday May 9, 2025 10:40am - 11:30am EDT

AI in Education

10:40am EDT

"It's what you answer to": Value of, and Methods for Learning Student Names

Friday May 9, 2025 10:40am - 11:30am EDT

TBA

“It ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to.” To create an inclusive classroom, it is important that we know our students’ names. Knowing students’ names is a sign of respect and a tool for inclusiveness. The session leaders will present research and concepts that address the importance of names. Then, they will lead a discussion that draws out the many ways the session participants learn their students' names. Finally, we will lead session participants in brainstorming additional ways to learn students' names. Participants should come away from the session knowing what students will “answer to”

Speakers

Gary Stark

Professor, Northern Michigan University

Former NMU Teaching & Learning ScholarProgram Chair for UPTLC 2018

Steven Edelson

Northern Michigan University

Friday May 9, 2025 10:40am - 11:30am EDT
TBA

Inclusive Teaching

10:40am EDT

R&R: Supporting Teaching by Supporting Ourselves

Friday May 9, 2025 10:40am - 11:30am EDT

What is a culture of care in the classroom? How can we pay attention to our own needs for rest and rejuvenation when there is so much to do? In this workshop, faculty members Lisa Gordillo and Brigitte Morin will guide participants through activities of care, rest and rejuvenation, along with a selection of quick classroom activities to lower stress and improve student engagement.

Speakers

Brigitte Morin

Senior Lecturer, Michigan Technological University

Lisa Gordillo

Assoc. Chair, Assoc. Professor of Visual & Performing Arts, Michigan Technological University

Friday May 9, 2025 10:40am - 11:30am EDT

Innovative Strategies

1:00pm EDT

Engaged Times in Houghton Middle School: Enhancing Team-Based Learning with Experiential Learning and Folio Thinking

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm EDT

Active learning and student engagement in higher education are crucial to student success. The session will explore how a pilot experience course using team-based learning enriched with experiential learning and folio thinking promotes deeper engagement and active learning. The course professor and three undergraduate students will provide an overview of the course, share individual experiences with the course components, and discuss teaching strategies to promote middle schoolers' engagement, tested out during their experiential learning sessions at the local middle school. Through open discussion, audience members will learn ways in which they can encourage active learning and engagement in their classrooms.

Speakers

Estela Mira Barreda

Michigan Technological University

Jane Johnston

Michigan Technological University

Iban Contreras

Michigan Technological University

Autumn Ciminski

Michigan Technological University

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm EDT

Active Learning

1:00pm EDT

Enhancing Teaching and Learning with Prompt Engineering

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm EDT

In today’s fast-paced educational environment, prompt engineering is an essential tool for modern classrooms. Join us for a fun session where you’ll discover how to create prompts that inspire student success! Participants will create and refine prompts to develop curricular materials and activities, find resources, engage in simulated conversations with experts, provide meaningful feedback, and assess student progress. We’ll provide strategies and examples to illustrate how prompt engineering can enhance teaching and learning. This presentation is ideal for educators at all levels, equipping you with practical techniques to integrate AI prompts into your teaching and foster critical thinking skills.

Speakers

Leo C. Ureel II

Assistant Professor Computer Science / Cognitive & Learning Sciences, Michigan Technological University

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm EDT

AI in Education

1:00pm EDT

Starting a new Higher Education Program in the Prison System - Lessons Learned

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm EDT

TBA

LSSU started a new Bachelors program at the Chippewa Correctional Facility in the Fall of 2024. This program has been a huge success. This presentation will share how we built this program from the ground up, sharing both success and failures. Focus will also be paid to what plans are to continue to improve and expand, as well as sharing how others can start their own programs.

Speakers

Kandi Wright

MI Dept of Corrections

Marc Boucher

Director, Library & Academic Services, Lake Superior State University

Alexandra Van Doren

Assistant Professor, Reference & Instruction Librarian, Lake Superior State University

I'm always looking for ways to bring technology and creativity into the library and the classroom. I've worked in education and libraries my whole career, in Ann Arbor, Chicago, Houston, and I'm happy to be back in my hometown, Sault Ste. Marie.

Jody Schopp

Administrative Assistant, Library & Academic Services, Lake Superior State University

Laura Moening

Academic Success Center Coordinator, Lake Superior State University

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm EDT
TBA

Innovative Strategies

1:00pm EDT

Transformative Innovation with OER and AI at Northern Michigan University

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm EDT

TBA

Northern Michigan University's Open Educational Resources (OER) Working Group has fostered faculty innovation through the creation of the OER Faculty Learning Community, through which faculty have explored using OER to reduce cost and increase accessibility of courses. This panel features four faculty members discussing their projects. One adopted existing OER to update a nutrition course, while also exploring an open pedagogy project. Another adopted hybrid approaches, combining OER with library resources, to reduce student costs in biology. Two others utilized generative AI to create engaging OER. The panelists will share their experiences, highlighting the benefits and challenges of integrating OER into their courses, and discuss the impact on teaching and student learning.

Speakers

Dawn Lundin

Adjunct Instructor, Northern Michigan University

I am an adjunct instructor for the School of Nursing at Northern Michigan University with experience teaching in-person, online, and hybrid.

Mitchel Klett

Professor, Northern Michigan University

Matt Kilgas

Assistant Professor, Northern Michigan University

Heng-Hsuan Chu

Associate professor, Northern Michigan University

Emera Bridger Wilson

Collection Management Librarian, Northern Michigan University

Friday May 9, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm EDT
TBA

Innovative Strategies

2:00pm EDT

Iterative Driven Competency-Based Assessment in a First-Year Engineering Computation Module

Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 2:25pm EDT

This presentation explores the implementation of autograded, iterative assessments in a first-year engineering MATLAB module to explore formulative competency-based learning. By providing real-time feedback on computational skills like loops, plotting, and functions, autograding aims to personalize learning and improve engagement. The study details the transition to Mathworks Grader, focusing on evaluating visual outputs and intermediate steps. Student performance, perceptions, and submission uniqueness are analyzed, comparing results to traditional assessments. Findings include reduced problem-solving time and increased student engagement. Challenges in creating diverse problem sets and validation code are discussed. The presentation evaluates the impact of autograding on individual learning and prepares students for future engineering challenges.

Speakers

AJ Hamlin

Teaching Professor - Engineering Fundamentals, Michigan Technological University

Matthew Barron

Michigan Technological University

James Bittner

Michigan Technological University

Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 2:25pm EDT

Active Learning

2:00pm EDT

Using AI to Code Learning Aids

Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 2:25pm EDT

TBA

This talk explores how professors—regardless of programming experience—can leverage AI to create custom educational tools. Through an interactive case study, we’ll demonstrate an iterative collaboration with AI, refining an idea from concept to functional tool. Attendees will learn practical strategies for prompting AI effectively, debugging AI-generated code, and incorporating domain-specific knowledge into AI-assisted development. By embracing this process, educators can enhance student engagement, automate tasks, and create tailored learning experiences without extensive coding expertise. This session aims to empower professors to co-create with AI, transforming innovative teaching ideas into functional, real-world applications

Speakers

Shane Oberloier

Michigan Technological University

Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 2:25pm EDT
TBA

AI in Education

2:00pm EDT

First Year Fears

Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 2:25pm EDT

Incoming students have fears related to attending college. This presentation will present some of the fears first year students have. The audience will then discuss how these fears can be addressed to better meet the needs of the student.

Speakers

Joseph D. Susi II

Professor/Chair Kinesiology and Behavioral Sciences, Lake Superior State University

Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 2:25pm EDT

Inclusive Teaching

2:00pm EDT

Crickets in the Classroom: Co-creating Learning Through Shared Challenging Experiences

Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 2:25pm EDT

TBA

Would you eat a cricket? What about dig through trash with your peers? In my Introduction to Anthropology course, students are doing just that—and learning how to think like anthropologists in the process. Throughout the semester, students have the opportunity to participate in five in-class “challenges.” The purpose of these experiential assignments is to make the learning tangible, to push students to try new things and think in new (anthropological) ways. In this presentation, I will share my experience in bringing play to the college classroom and discuss how, with each challenge, we build trust and co-create our learning.

Speakers

Malorie Albee

Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Northern Michigan University

Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 2:25pm EDT
TBA

Innovative Strategies

2:00pm EDT

Reflective Foundations: Building a Metacognitive Core for Michigan Tech's Essential Education

Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 2:25pm EDT

TBA

This session examines the critical role of reflection in Michigan Tech's Essential Education program, launching in 2025. It emphasizes building a metacognitive core through reflective practices, integrated learning, and ePortfolios to develop 12 essential abilities (EAs) for workplace success. Focusing on EAs like "Reflect," "Welcome Challenge," and "Communicate Quantitatively," it explores how faculty can foster these skills. Attendees will gain insights into EAs, learn practical strategies for embedding reflection in courses, and participate in discussions to enhance student readiness. The proposal advocates for a culture of reflection to empower adaptable and ethically responsible graduates.

Speakers

Maria Bergstrom

Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, College of Sciences and Arts Associate Teaching Professor, Humanities Depart, Michigan Technological University

I teach writing, literature, and professional development for Humanities students. I also serve as the undergraduate academic advisors for majors and minors in the Humanities department at Michigan Tech.I'm interested in reflection as a mode of learning and reflective writing as a... Read More →

Jean DeClerck

Michigan Technological University

Nancy Barr

Husky Folio Manager, Michigan Technological University

Experienced technical communication instructor with a keen interest in portfolio use in undergraduate education, communication curriculum development, and best practices in inclusive, engaging teaching in undergraduate and graduate courses, with a particular focus on active learning... Read More →

Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 2:25pm EDT
TBA

Innovative Strategies

2:25pm EDT

Hidden Curriculum in the College of Computing

Friday May 9, 2025 2:25pm - 2:40pm EDT

1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931

Hidden curriculum consists of the necessary behaviors, norms, and knowledge needed for student success that is not overtly taught in the classroom. This poster will show the preliminary results from a study that evaluates hidden curriculum in computing students at Michigan Technological University. This study analyses three perspectives of hidden curriculum: faculty, students, and near-peer mentors (i.e., learning center coaches, SAM leaders, and lab instructors) through semi-structured interview and survey methods to dive deep into individuals experiences and observations while trying to generalize the findings to the larger Michigan Technological University computing context.

Speakers

Joe Teahan

Michigan Technological University

Friday May 9, 2025 2:25pm - 2:40pm EDT
MTU - Fisher Hall - First Floor Lobby 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931

Poster Session

2:25pm EDT

C-Slam: New Techniques in Antipattern Matching

Friday May 9, 2025 2:25pm - 3:00pm EDT

1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931

The completion of programming assignments rarely happens one-on-one with an instructor. They can be completed at all hours, with many assignments being submitted and only receiving feedback along with the grade. Finding antipatterns of novice programmers allows us to automatically provide rich, immediate feedback whenever they program. An antipattern is a common code mistake programmers make. Antipatterns can be found in programs by using tests, regex, and abstract syntax trees. While finding them is useful, code to do so can be complex. By using the new tool C-Slam combined with tree-sitters, ease of use and coverage of antipatterns is increased.

Speakers

Daniel Masker

Graduate Student, Michigan Technological University

Friday May 9, 2025 2:25pm - 3:00pm EDT
MTU - Fisher Hall - First Floor Lobby 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931

Poster Session

2:25pm EDT

Course Learning Activities to Foster Entrepreneurial Mindset

Friday May 9, 2025 2:25pm - 3:00pm EDT

1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931

We will present redesigned existing and newly designed course learning activities as an innovative strategy to foster curiosity, connection, and creating value elements of the entrepreneurial mindset in engineering students. Cultivating such habits will allow students to be curious about new opportunities and ideas, connect varied information, and create value by solving problems. We will show before and after versions of redesigned existing and newly designed course learning activities. We will show that these redesigned or newly designed course learning activities encourage students to practice both course topics and the three key elements of the entrepreneurial mindset.

Speakers

Radheshyam Tewari

Michigan Technological University

Hrishikesh Shinde

Michigan Technological University

Friday May 9, 2025 2:25pm - 3:00pm EDT
MTU - Fisher Hall - First Floor Lobby 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931

Poster Session

3:00pm EDT

iClicker Groups and Quizzes: New tools for in-class engagement

Friday May 9, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT

In addition to traditional polling, iClicker now offers two new features. The group feature shows students how others in their locally seated group have voted in a poll and strongly encourages them to “reach consensus” before submission. The quizzing feature allows creation, administration, and quick feedback on low stakes quizzes with any number of multiple choice questions. I will discuss a variety of attempts (successful and not so successful) to use both of these features to engage students in my very large (~300 student) and more moderate (~90 student) physics classes Attendees will be encouraged to share any experiences with these relatively new tools as well.

Speakers

Mike Meyer

Michigan Technological University

Friday May 9, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT

Active Learning

3:00pm EDT

Potential Factors that Affect Group Dynamics in Active Learning Classrooms

Friday May 9, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT

1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931

In this session, I will describe my experience facilitating group work in two different classes. In both classes, students were asked to work with classmates to solve problems without explicit instruction on how to do so. Despite the similar structure of the two courses, I noticed the group conversations were higher-quality in one of the courses. In this session, I will argue that three features of the experience, a) the characteristics of the students, b) the nature of the tasks I gave the students, and c) the physical learning environment, affected the quality of the conversations I heard.

Speakers

John Gruver

Michigan Technological University

Friday May 9, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT
TBA

Active Learning

3:00pm EDT

Education by Design

Friday May 9, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT

1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931

Close your eyes and look back in time to your “formal education” experience. Knowing what you know now, can you say that you were prepared for college, career, and beyond? What would you change? What if you could have had a hand in designing your own educational experience? With the help of invested advisors and neer-peer collegiate mentors, imagine gaining understanding of both content and exploratory knowledge while also pursuing a passion project driven by the Design Thinking Process. Lifelong learners are the architects of their own futures, constantly evolving, exploring, and embracing the beauty of growth.

Speakers

Susan Nielsen

Michigan Technological University

Friday May 9, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT
TBA

Innovative Strategies

3:00pm EDT

From Individual (Lecture-Based) Learning to Collaborative Growth: My Journey with Group Problem-Solving in Physics

Friday May 9, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT

1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931

In this talk, I reflect on my transition from individual-focused lecture-based learning to fostering collaborative growth through Group Problem-Solving (GPS) in physics. Drawing from my experience assisting PH2100 (University Physics I) at Michigan Tech, I discuss how GPS encourages teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving resilience. This approach deepens conceptual understanding, builds peer connections, and prepares students for research and industry. I also explore its adaptability beyond physics to other STEM and humanities fields. This session invites educators to reflect on their teaching practices and consider structured collaborative learning as a scalable, impactful approach in education and professional settings.

Speakers

Pritam Mandal

Michigan Technological University

Friday May 9, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT
TBA

Innovative Strategies

4:00pm EDT

Encouraging a Growth Mindset in a General Education STEM Course

Friday May 9, 2025 4:00pm - 4:25pm EDT

Teaching introductory-level, general-education science courses come with their own sets of challenges – including the promotion of active participation, the management of a wide variety of incoming skill sets, and the encouragement of a growth mindset in a course with negative connotations for many students. How can we, as instructors, overcome these additional challenges in an academic environment where the modern student has a short attention span and a need for immediate gratification? This presentation will describe three pedagogical strategies to increase active participation and encourage a growth mindset that have proven to be successful in general chemistry courses.

Speakers

Hannah Cavalieri

Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Northern Michigan University

Friday May 9, 2025 4:00pm - 4:25pm EDT

Active Learning

4:00pm EDT

Inspiring high school students to study Computer Science at LSSU: Interactive Python workshops to create drawings

Friday May 9, 2025 4:00pm - 4:25pm EDT

1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931

Python is an excellent language to introduce future programmers to the amazing world of computer programming. Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language. It supports modules and packages. This interactive Python workshop was specially designed for high school students to inspire them to study Computer Science at Lake Superior State University. High school students who visit the University and participate in a workshop on creating drawings using Python have the opportunity of being in a university level class, while being inspired to study Computer Science or programs related to Computer Science.

Speakers

Paul Bartus

Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Lake Superior State University

Friday May 9, 2025 4:00pm - 4:25pm EDT
TBA

Active Learning

4:00pm EDT

AI as a Teaching Partner: A Case Study of Generative AI-Based Assignments

Friday May 9, 2025 4:00pm - 4:25pm EDT

This presentation explores generative AI-based assignments, using an engineering technology course as a case study, for continuous improvement in both teaching and learning. The assignments utilized various generative AI tools, including ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, SciSpace, HeyGen, and Adobe Express.

Speakers

Jongeun You

Northern Michigan University

Friday May 9, 2025 4:00pm - 4:25pm EDT

AI in Education

4:00pm EDT

Global Learning Experiences in the Online Environment: Fostering Intercultural Competence Using the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Framework

Friday May 9, 2025 4:00pm - 4:25pm EDT

1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931

The Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Framework provides a structured and effective approach for designing collaborative projects that connect students and faculty from two geographically diverse higher education institutions. COIL projects foster students’ intercultural competence, through global learning experiences integrated in an online course. During this session, participants will understand COIL’s purpose and its core components and explore strategies for identifying and collaborating with a COIL partner. By the end of the session, participants will have the knowledge needed to begin planning a COIL experience, and the tools to help them fully implement it.

Speakers

Cindy Basse

Instructor - Early Childhood, Northern Michigan University

Weronika Kusek

Northern Michigan University

Friday May 9, 2025 4:00pm - 4:25pm EDT
TBA

Innovative Strategies

2025 UP-TLC

From $0.00