Recap

8:45 AM to 10:00 AM

AI for Teaching and Learning

When I first used ChatGPT, I was horrified. I thought to myself: “This is the future of plagiarism.” I felt so distraught that I put down the technology for several days. When I returned to the program, I made an experiment out of it. I was going to approach the program as learner, rather than as a professor. That’s the exact moment when I started to see the potential for Generative AI for teaching in learning.

This keynote will generalize that shift, to present an ambitious idea: the rise of Generative AI is going to test our ability to empathize with one another. To take advantage of this technology, educators will need to think more like students. And conversely, students will need to think more like educators. 

The rise of Generative AI is as much about our mindset as it is about the technology.

10:30 AM to 11:15 AM

I need to know what?: Using the Assessment of Technology Needs Tool

It is important to communicate to the level of proficiency required to support students using technology. To help faculty better understand their educational needs, an Assessment of Technology Needs Tool was developed. Based on Warnock (2009), this tool serves to explicate pedagogical need, availability, complexity, and learning needs of faculty.

10:30 AM TO 11:15 AM

RISE: A Comprehensive Student-Staff Evaluation Experience

Sykes Union and Student Activities created and launched RISE: Rams Integrating Skills and Education, a student-staff evaluation experience that tracks students' growth throughout their employment with our unit. Presenters will discuss the creative process while reviewing the program in-depth and providing tools for how to adapt it for your department.

10:30 AM TO 11:15 AM

Using Generative A.I. in Teaching

In this panel discussion three WCU faculty share how they discuss generative A.I. with students, approach it in their teaching, and continue to stay current with a fast changing topic. Attendees will leave with practical advice and tips on how to incorporate generative AI into their instructional processes.

10:30 AM to 11:15 AM

Unveiling "Good" Undergraduate Research: Strategies, Student Experiences, and Barriers

What makes for "good" researching skills in collegiate institutions? How do barriers discourage undergraduates from conducting research? This presentation seeks to answer these questions through examining methods of learning "good" research (such as literature reviews or ChatGPT) and barriers to researching using lived experiences from students and various frameworks.

12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Developing Critical Reasoning Skills in Pre-Matriculation Medical Students Through Information Literacy Exercises

This study aims to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention incorporating medical databases, search engines, and generative artificial intelligence (GAI) tools on the critical thinking skills and confidence of first-year medical students at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (SOM). Approximately 125 students participating in a three-week pre-matriculation program will be subjects of the study. The intervention will consist of a curriculum focused on developing research questions, using search tools and GAI, evaluating sources, and writing a research paper. Pre- and post-tests, including a CARS assessment and a perceived knowledge and abilities questionnaire, will be administered to measure changes in critical analysis skills and confidence in research-related tasks. Data analysis will involve comparing pre- and post-test CARS scores using a paired t-test and analyzing responses to Likert-style and open-ended questions to assess changes in confidence and abilities. A survey conducted in February 2024 revealed that first-year medical students find AI tools helpful in saving time and effort, improving research and presentation skills, and enhancing clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities. The study hypothesizes that the intervention will lead to improved CARS assessment scores, increased student confidence and abilities in various research-related tasks, and the establishment of a sustainable intervention that can be integrated into the SOM curriculum and shared with other medical schools through publication. The fair and accessible utilization of free AI resources is expected to provide uniform opportunities for all students to engage with research and analytical tools, ensuring that students' likelihood of success is not influenced by their background.

12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Discussions with Padlet

I would like to highlight how I have utilized Padlet in place of D2L discussion boards in my courses for the last three years. Students have given padlet rave reviews and enjoy this platform much better than the traditional D2L discussion board.

12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Empowering Teams: Social Committees and Inclusive Team-Building

Our session explores the practical benefits of incorporating games and social events to enhance team dynamics. It highlights establishing social committees, inclusive team-building, and connecting professional growth to a vibrant workplace culture. Our in-house developed virtual board game demonstrates activities that can improve interactions, professional development, sharing, and overall cohesion.

12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

How to Implement a Pedagogy of Kindness in Online Courses

A pedagogy of kindness reorients the educator-student relationship to consider the diverse identities and needs of our students, while prioritizing compassion and building trust. But how do we do this in a virtual classroom? This session demonstrates concrete strategies to implement a pedagogy of kindness in online courses.

12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Histematics on YouTube: A Tool to Increase Math Outcomes Among African-American Students

In this presentation, the participants will be introduced to the All This Math YouTube channel. The channel is a culturally-relevant resource providing math tutorial videos that are infused with Black History. The presence of Black History in the math instructional videos serves to make the content relatable.

12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Streamlining Success: Elevating Software Procurement Process using ServiceNow's ITSM Workflows

This session will uncover key strategic aspects of West Chester University’s software purchasing process powered by ServiceNow. Our poster will illustrate how WCU employed ServiceNow to digitally transform the software procurement process by developing a standardized framework with a focus on the assessment of privacy and security risks associated with third-party vendors, ensuring a thorough evaluation of their compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.

12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Using App-Enabled Advanced Feedback CPR Manikins to Enhance Real-Time Student Performance

This hands-on session demonstrates the use of Bluetooth-enabled advanced feedback CPR manikins to provide real-time feedback on student skill performance via a mobile app. Attendees will be able to practice CPR skills and receive instant information about the depth, rate, and efficiency of chest compressions, and volume of rescue breaths.

1:15 PM to 2:00 PM

Active Learning with Simulations

Research has shown that active learning strategies are more effective than traditional methods at providing students with a conceptual understanding of content, increasing content retention, and decreasing achievement gaps for underrepresented populations and first generation college students. This session is focused on how to use simulations to promote active learning.

1:15 PM TO 2:00 PM

Integrating Career Center Tools for Career-focused Learners

Are you struggling to find ways to support career-focused learners with your curriculum? Join this panel of Twardowski Career Development Center staff and students, along with a professor, as they demonstrate how new CDC digital tools can benefit learners and be scaffolded into discipline-specific courses such as online public speaking.

1:15 PM TO 2:00 PM

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Education: Strategies and Solutions for the Digital Era

AI supports daily life in a wide variety of ways. With the advent of new platforms, education is more impacted by this type of technological development than ever. This session will share the importance of AI in education as well as offer solutions that can be utilized by educators.

1:15 PM TO 2:00 PM

Within Reach: Fostering success in the classroom through equitable access to technology

Courses that require technology can create barriers for some students. Computer labs have time and geographic limitations, creating another barrier for students. West Chester University is working to eliminate these barriers by providing equitable access to the technology needed for coursework on the student’s terms.

2:15 PM to 3:00 PM

Creating, Learning, and Researching with Generative AI

The challenges and opportunities offered by generative AI (GAI) vary by context. Join us for a moderated panel discussion with a ceramics professor, computer science student, and university administrator GAI integration in their respective contexts. They will share insights and reflections from their explorations of GAI.

2:15 PM to 3:00 PM

Importance of Data-Driven Approach in Higher Education

In higher education, a data-driven approach is essential for informed decision-making, optimizing student outcomes, and enhancing institutional efficiency. By analyzing student data, universities can identify trends, tailor educational programs, and allocate resources effectively, ultimately fostering student success and institutional excellence in an increasingly competitive academic landscape.

2:15 PM TO 3:00 PM

Implementing Virtual Reality to Enhance Student Learning Experiences

Virtual reality technology can provide students with simulated experiences that allow them to apply what they are learning and to experience content in a more meaningful way. In this session, we will explore the development of a VR initiative and strategies for integrating the technology into courses to strengthen learning.

2:15 PM to 3:00 PM

Using Creativity to Enhance Student Engagement & Development: A New Paraprofessional Training Model

This presentation looks at one specific part of a student development curriculum, pre-semester student staff training. This training model uses creative means such as a long-term student development program, flipped learning, and gamification to increase student engagement, self-efficacy, and build a sense of belonging within the department and the university.