Cover Story
PERSONAL TOUCH
A Virtually Seamless Transition TEACHING ONLINE, FACULTY MAINTAIN PERSONAL TOUCH When reports of the coronavirus started emanating from China, chemistry and biochemistry professor Rebecca DeVasher started developing do-it-yourself virtual and simulated laboratory projects for her classes. She worked with the Labster online lab repository to provide free virtual labs that engage her students with interesting and educational organic chemistry and research activities. DeVasher has been pleasantly surprised by how her students have enjoyed aspects of the new online learning environment. “There is a lot of work involved and I’ve found it’s really important to stick to the fundamentals of what I’ve learned over the years at RoseHulman: Put student engagement first and DO NOT overthink the small stuff,” DeVasher says.
Rebecca DeVasher
One of her Organic Chemistry III students passed along a note stating: “You have made this transition more normal than I thought possible … I love your humor and your love for your students. Thanks for all you do.”
Learn more about Rose-Hulman’s outstanding faculty at www.rose-hulman.edu.
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Several faculty have shared their stories, as they’ve adjusted to online teaching. Diane Evans’ skills as an engaging educator have
continued as she helps students learn to appreciate analyzing statistical methods. Students in her Six Sigma in Practice course were starting to collect data about hand sanitizer usage on campus when the coronavirus pandemic halted the project. Undaunted, the class’s statistical pursuits turned to tracking Evans’ daily exercise habits. “This is providing extra motivation for my daily exercise habits. I’m inspired to get data for my students. It’s very helpful and engaging for me as well,” says the engineering management professor. In other online sessions, Evans can be viewed online donning a medical coat, gloves and safety glasses and grabbing toy surgical tools while using the popular Operation game to consider the improved surgery times of multiple health care procedures for a “patient.” She collected data for student teams— depicted by two stuffed elephant figures.
Diane Evans
