Faculty Innovations and Best Practices Showcase

At the third annual Faculty Innovations and Best Practices Showcase on Wednesday, May 31, forty-five faculty and staff members learned from their colleagues about new ways to engage students.

This day-long teaching and learning event began with opening remarks from Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs Nancy Schoenfeld, who thanked the presenters for sharing their innovative pedagogical practices with the college community. Dr. Schoenfeld’s welcome address was followed by these presentations: “Service Learning: Lessons Learned ing” by Jim Brennan, “Using Blackboard for the Classroom” by Carrie H. Johnson, “Go Open for Manufacturing CAD” by Damian Kieran, “Collaborating with Colleagues in Other Disciplines” by Karen O’Neill and Amy Beaudry, “Blackboard Collaborate Ultra—Not Your Mother’s Virtual Classroom” by Robert Knox, and “Let’s Share ‘Apps’!” by Andreana M. Grimaldo.

The final presentation was a hands-on demonstration of the new music room by Josè Castillo. During this “Music at QCC?” presentation, attendees had a chance to set up the Yamaha 88 weighted keyboards and try on headphones, which are part of a sophisticated conferencing system allowing students to play the keyboards without hearing one another. Mr. Castillo showed how the instructor can talk to students while they are playing, listen in and give feedback, or offer further explanations to the entire class.

Over lunch, attendees had more opportunities to ask the presenters follow-up questions and converse with their peers.