The Academic Commons

This episode features John Milligan, Ph.D., and a discussion about student engagement by utilizing innovative instruction and virtual reality, including best practices, how it can improve your practice, and how it can support your learners.

Guest: John Milligan, Ph.D.

• Role: Professor of Organic Chemistry, Thomas Jefferson University
• Expertise: Student engagement, innovative chemistry instruction, and virtual reality integration in education

Quote from the Episode:

Getting Started:

• Introduce small-scale technology interventions and seek student feedback to refine strategies.
• Use engagement tools selectively to enhance, not replace, traditional teaching methods.
• Provide alternative engagement options for students who may have accessibility concerns with technology-based activities.
• Explore digital engagement platforms like Nearpod.
• Contact us to get started with engagement tools, or contact our EdTech team if you're interested in using virtual reality to teach.

Terms to Know:

The terms below are mentioned in the episode, and for context and clarity, we provided brief definitions of terms you will hear.

• Active Learning: An instructional approach that engages students directly in the learning process.
• Flipped Classroom: a classroom model that is structured around the idea that lecture or direct instruction is not the best use of class time. Instead, students encounter information before class, freeing class time for activities that involve higher-order thinking.
• Nearpod: A digital learning platform that enables interactive presentations, quizzes, and collaborative activities.
• Virtual Reality (VR): A computer-generated simulation that allows users to interact with a 3D environment.

Selected Resources:

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

1. Academic Commons Upcoming Workshops and Events
2. Talking Teaching with Chris Pastore - email to join the announcement list
3. XR in Higher Education: Adoption, Considerations, and Recommendations
4. Milligan, J. A. (2020). What Is the Value of Synchronous Engagement in Small Remote Organic Chemistry Classes? Analysis of Multiple-Choice Polling Data from the COVID-Impacted Spring Semester of 2020. Journal of Chemical Education, 97(9), 3206–3210. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.0c00686