The Academic Commons

In this episode, Thomas Schrand, PhD, shares how the Hallmarks Core and its Power Skills cultivate adaptable, intellectually curious graduates prepared for an evolving, AI-influenced world. He offers practical insights into learner-centered teaching, critical thinking, and reflective practice that help students build durable, human-centered competencies. Educators will gain strategies for strengthening meaningful learning across disciplines.

Transcript Episode 14: Power Skills with Dr. Thomas Schrand

Guest: Thomas Schrand, PhD

• Role: Associate Dean for General Education & Professor of History
• Expertise: Curriculum development, pedagogy, general education, and active learning

Quote from the Episode:

Getting Started:

• Ask students to apply course concepts to real world or professional scenarios, reinforcing both disciplinary relevance and transferable competencies.
• Start each class with a device free expectation to promote presence, note taking by hand, and deeper engagement with peers and content.
• Build in reflective moments, such as end of week or end of unit prompts, asking students to identify key takeaways or what learning mattered most to them.
• Contact us to talk about learning design and incorporating these skills into your classroom.

Terms to Know:

The terms below are mentioned in the episode, and for context and clarity, we've provided brief definitions of potentially unfamiliar terms you may hear.

• Learner Centered Teaching: An approach that focuses on how students learn—emphasizing engagement, active participation, and cognitive processes rather than instructor-led delivery.
• Active Learning: Any instructional method that requires students to be metacognitive and engage in meaningful activities (e.g., discussion, problem solving) rather than passively listening to lectures.
• Cognitive Psychology: A branch of psychology which explores the mental process related to perceiving, attending, thinking, language, learning, and memory.

Selected Resources:

The Learning Curve team curated this list based on university resources or guest recommendations.

1. The Science of Learning — Academic Commons Self-Paced Program
2. Designing Learning that Endures: The Science of Learning in Practice: Academic Commons Self-Paced Program
3. The Hallmarks Core Program — Thomas Jefferson University Page
4. Major, C. H., Harris, M. S., & Zakrajsek, T. (2021). Teaching for learning: 101 intentionally designed educational activities to put students on the path to success. (Second edition.). ROUTLEDGE.
5. Zakrajsek, T., & Nilson, L. B. (2023). Teaching at its best: a research-based resource for college instructors (Fifth edition.). Jossey-Bass, a Wiley Brand.
6. Academic Commons Upcoming Workshops and Events