2025 UP-TLC: Full Schedule

9:00am EDT

Beyond Carrots and Sticks: Competency Based Grading and Narrative Assessments

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

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

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

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

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

Marc Boucher

Director, Library & Academic Services, Lake Superior State University

Jody Schopp

Administrative Assistant, Library & Academic Services, 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

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

3:00pm EDT

Education by Design

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

TBA

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

TBA

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

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

TBA

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

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