I am amazed by the work being done by the Kirkwood faculty on a daily basis. Their passion for supporting student success is truly inspiring. The Endowed Faculty Chair awards support our faculty so they can continue to grow as educators to ensure our students receive the highest quality education possible. These awards are an investment in those who teach that will pay huge dividends in student success for years to come.
Norm Nielsen in December Endowed Faculty Chairs provide an opportunity for selected faculty to undertake professional development projects in their disciplines or in instructional pedagogy through writing, preparing, and presenting a special lecture, conducting research, or pursuing other opportunities.
The emphasis is on personal and professional growth and is separate from assigned duties, routine work, or service to the department. The Endowed Faculty Chair program is a major effort by the Kirkwood Board of Trustees and the Kirkwood Foundation Board to demonstrate their commitment to quality instruction by recognizing and fostering instructional excellence and lifelong learning.
The objective is to enhance the educational experience by making learning more engaging and supportive for students. This initiative will explore how AR and VR can elevate student engagement levels and assist educators in tailoring their instruction to accommodate individual students' diverse learning styles and needs.
The strategy involves integrating AR and VR technologies to enrich the learning environment. The process includes identifying the most effective AR and VR tools, implementing them in classroom settings for trial runs, and then integrating them into regular teaching practices. The effectiveness of this project will be evaluated by monitoring student academic performance and gathering their insights through surveys and interviews to gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact of these technologies on the learning process.
