First cohort of ITSP scholars graduates

Scholars and projects The initial ITPS scholars and their project titles were: Joyce Black, Ph.D., of the College of Nursing — “Improving Test Item Writing and Analysis Using a Wiki Model”; Larry Crouch, Ph.D., of the College of Dentistry — “Enhancing Critical and Integrative Thinking in the D1 Basic Sciences”; Tanya Custer of the School of Allied Health Professions — “Radiation Therapy Simulation Instructional Module Effectiveness Study”; David McMillan, Ph.D., of the College of Medicine — “Hybrid Lecture-online Module in Autonomic Pharmacology for Instruction of Allied Health Professions Students”; Dennis McNeilly, Psy.D., of the College of Medicine — “The Personality Disorders Diagnosis Video Learning Unit: Using Video-sharing Websites in Psychiatry Medical Education”; Sharon Medcalf of the College of Public Health — “Using Audience Response Systems to Enhance the Learning Experience and Retention”; Connie Miller, Ph.D., of the College of Nursing — “Creative, Safe Strategies to Develop Critical Thinking Skills for Life-Threatening Cardiac Emergencies”; Barbara Sittner, Ph.D., of the College of Nursing — “Labor & Delivery: A Simulating Childbirth Experience”; and Gordon Todd, Ph.D., of the College of Medicine — “Student Surveys to Help Enhance Virtual Microscopy Histology Course.”

The first cohort of the Instructional Technology Scholars Program (ITSP) recently graduated from the 18-month course.

The ITSP is designed to identify and provide support to UNMC faculty innovators who can act as role models for colleagues in the exploration of the use of educational technology to be more effective educators.

At the graduation event, participants presented their final reports on innovative units of instruction for their various colleges and programs.

“I have been very impressed by not only the quality of the projects, but also by their creativity,” said William Anderson, Ph.D., professor in the office of medical education research and development at Michigan State University who helped UNMC’s Thomas Birk, Ph.D., coordinate and conduct the ITSP course. “These projects will improve the quality of instruction at UNMC, and begin to build a national reputation for UNMC as a venue for instructional technology excellence.”

William Hendee, Ph.D., distinguished professor of biophysics, radiology, radiation oncology, and population health at the Medical College of Wisconsin, also helped Dr. Birk with the course.

He said each UNMC participant made clever uses of information technology in their respective projects.

“It’s also interesting to see how the scholars have mastered the technology, as well as learned about the technology used by others in the program,” Dr. Hendee said.

The ITSP program is funded by:

• UNMC Faculty Development;
  
• The offices of the dean of each of UNMC’s five colleges; and
  
• UNMC Information Technology Services.

Interested UNMC faculty are encouraged to contact the participants listed in the sidebar to discuss the ITSP experience and ways information technology can help advance education.

William Anderson, Ph.D., Joyce Black, Ph.D., Barbara Sittner, Ph.D., Sharon Medcalf, Dennis McNeilly, Psy.D., Tanya Custer, David McMillan, Ph.D., Connie Miller, Ph.D., Larry Crouch, Ph.D., Gordon Todd, Ph.D., Tom Birk, Ph.D., and William Hendee, Ph.D.