CTL News

Ronald Armistead, a South Mountain Community College Student Worker in the Center for Teaching and Learning, has set up the new HoloLens 2, which will allow Construction Trade Program students to engage in live connections with technicians on-site and view the environment in 3D as if they were there. This technology will enable students to gain hands-on experience and learn valuable skills, communicate with technicians and instructors/supervisors in real-time, and visualize complex projects in 3D. The HoloLens 2 Development Kit will give students a competitive edge as they enter the workforce and prepare them to work with emerging technologies in the field.

South Mountain Community College faculty members (Devi Davis-Strong, Brian Smith, Loida Gutierrez) recently took a break from their teaching responsibilities to focus on their individual professional development with Faculty Developer Felice Weiner. During the session, faculty members engaged in discussions centered on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning by sharing and reflecting on their teaching experiences this academic year. By taking the time to focus on their own growth and development as educators, they were able to bring new perspectives and fresh ideas back to their classrooms, ultimately benefiting their students' learning experiences. The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) is an excellent resource for faculty members to continue refining their skills and staying up-to-date on the latest teaching practices.

This week marks a significant moment in the education landscape as Cougy and South Mountain enter the Metaverse to redesign the reality of learning experiences for Maricopa Community College students. With the aim of re-envisioning education, this visit to the Metaverse begins a new opportunity to create an immersive learning environment that can bridge the gap between physical and digital spaces. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, the Center for Teaching and Learning strives to offer students a more engaging and interactive way of learning that can enhance their overall academic performance and prepare them for the future. As the Metaverse continues to gain momentum, it's exciting to see how this shift in education will impact students and pave the way for a new era of learning. 

Dr. Jeannette Shaffer (SMCC), Rupanjana Sengupta (SMCC), Dr. James Abraham (GCC) and student Ronald Armistead (SMCC) recently visited Arizona State University's Dreamscape Learn to experience an immersive virtual reality (VR) biology lab. The group had the opportunity to learn about biostatistics and experimental methodology in an immersive classroom pod before moving on to the cinematic storytelling experience, Alien Zoo, where they donned backpacks, hand and feet sensors, and VR headsets.

The experience was inspiring and generated ideas for incorporating virtual reality into learning. They believe that immersiveVR learning experiences have the potential to transform the way students learn, and as students and professors, their goal is to continuously seek out new and innovative ways for teaching that promotes deeper learning. They look forward to exploring ways to incorporate VR immersive experiences into Maricopa classrooms and enhance students' educational options for learning.