DUTTON INSTITUTE NEWS

At a recent Dutton Community Day, the learning design team engaged in a "User Manual Scavenger Hunt" to strengthen connections. Each person created a personal "user manual" outlining their work preferences, and these were displayed around the room for a fun scavenger hunt, sparking conversation and laughter. This activity not only helped team members learn more about each other, but it also provided a great model for use in classrooms. By having students create personal user manuals, instructors can foster connections and enhance communication. Activities like the scavenger hunt—whether in-person or virtual—can build a sense of community, making students feel valued and supported, which can boost both their social and academic success.

The John A. Dutton Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence is excited to announce the addition of three talented professionals to our team, each bringing unique skills and experiences that will enhance our mission to deliver high-quality educational experiences.

There is a new face in the Dutton community - Suzy Hartz, our Administrative Assistant Supervisor!

Discover how diverse assessment methods can transform online learning! By employing various data analysis techniques on quizzes, lab assignments, mid-term exams, capstone projects, and ungraded knowledge checks, we unveiled the powerful synergy of these different assessments. Our findings reveal that combining these approaches boosts student learning.

This month's Digest offers grading tips, a link to a free book on inclusive practices, and highlights articles and examples of teaching frameworks, chunking, and Gagne's Nive Events of Instruction.

The perceptions of Learning Design range from the belief that we simply put an instructor’s slides into Canvas, to being a one stop shop that does everything for a Subject Matter Expert. While there are threads of truth to this, it’s far from the heart of what our profession is dedicated to.

This edition of the Digest centers on assessment and turning exams into learning activities.

The Dutton Digest for this month covers formative assessment and the Penn State CAPS program's "Life Hacks" resources.

Play, gamification, and feedback are the main topics for this edition of the Digest.

PhD candidate and Dutton intern Emre Dinç, Learning designer Maria Wherley, and associate teaching professor and adviser Haley Sankey teamed up to study students’ attitudes toward journaling assignments used as assessment activities in a study-away experience.