Innovation in Teaching

Design effective learning environments using a variety of interactive educational and multimedia strategies which engage the learner in interdisciplinary and collaborative activities.

Artifact Reflection:

Mini Project and Video Creation/HPTT 803 Integrating Technology into Health Professions

This project reflects the collection of twelve mini-teaching assignments and three video-based projects that were completed throughout the semester. The goal of these assignments was to develop teaching materials related to my professional field while experimenting with a variety of instructional technologies and teaching strategies. Each project encouraged the use of different digital tools to design learning experiences that could work in multiple teaching environments, including traditional classroom settings, online courses, and hybrid formats. Because of its emphasis on integrating multiple technologies and creative teaching strategies, this artifact aligns well with the objective of innovation in teaching.

One of the most valuable aspects of this project was learning how to design instructional content that can reach students with different learning styles and preferences. Many of the activities involved modifying or augmenting content to make it more interactive and engaging. For example, some materials were gamified to encourage participation and help students process information at deeper cognitive levels. Of all the approaches I tried, creating gamified learning content was easily the most enjoyable. It added an element of fun to the learning experience while still reinforcing important concepts.

The most challenging part of the project was producing the video assignments, particularly recording and editing the voice-over narration. It took several attempts, along with a fair amount of editing and re-recording, to produce a final version that felt polished and clear. Although it was time-consuming, the experience turned out to be extremely beneficial. In my current role at the University of Iowa, I have needed to create instructional videos with voice-over narration, and the skills I developed during this assignment made that process much easier and more effective.

Artifact Reflection:

Visualization Learning Technologies/HPTT 824 Simulated and Virtual Learning in Health Professions Education

The purpose of this assignment was to explore how emerging visualization technologies could potentially transform medical simulation and education in the future. For this project, I wrote a futuristic reflection imagining how advanced simulation technology might be used by learners or educators in five to ten years. I focused specifically on how innovations in imaging technology could influence the way echocardiography is taught and practiced. This artifact aligns with the objective of innovation in teaching because it encourages forward-thinking about how technological advancements may shape educational practices and clinical workflows.

In my reflection, I explored the potential impact of advanced three-dimensional imaging in echocardiography and how it could significantly change the way cardiac ultrasound exams are performed. If imaging technology continues to evolve, it may eventually allow clinicians to capture comprehensive cardiac datasets more efficiently, reducing overall exam time. This could benefit both patients and sonographers by improving comfort during the procedure and potentially reducing the physical strain associated with longer exams. Since work-related musculoskeletal injuries are a common concern in sonography, innovations that shorten scan times or improve ergonomic workflow could have a meaningful impact on the profession.

This assignment pushed me to think critically about challenges within my field and imagine creative solutions that might address them. One major limitation that must be considered is the physics of ultrasound itself, particularly factors such as the speed of sound in soft tissue and variations in tissue density. Despite these constraints, medical technology, especially ultrasound equipment, has advanced rapidly over the past several decades. Because of this, it will be fascinating to watch how three-dimensional imaging continues to develop and how these innovations may eventually shape both clinical practice and ultrasound education.