Florida State University faculty highlighted new ways to teach students during the third annual Provost’s Showcase of Scholarly Teaching, held on April 22. The event brought together educators from across campus to present innovative approaches such as virtual reality simulations, artificial intelligence-driven coursework, and hands-on activities aimed at improving student engagement and learning.
The showcase is part of ongoing efforts by the university’s Center for the Advancement of Teaching in collaboration with FSU Libraries to promote student-centered teaching. Organizers said the goal is to help students develop skills needed in their fields through research-based and creative instructional strategies.
This year’s showcase featured 31 poster presentations and 18 roundtable discussions focused on student success in both classroom and online settings. FSU Provost Jim Clark addressed attendees, saying, “I recognize from my own experience as a researcher just how many hours it takes to put together such high-quality work. It is exciting to think that our students are benefiting so much from the type of intelligence you are bringing to this work. This commitment is truly what makes Florida State University a very special place and why we are a top 25 institution.”
Vice President for Student Academic Success Joe O’Shea also spoke at the opening session. “As ambassadors of teaching excellence, you’re helping to lead the way for FSU,” O’Shea said. “I have so much appreciation for the engaging class experiences you create — the dedication to designing powerful learning experiences that stretch and empower students to grow to their full potential.”
Faculty presented innovations such as gamifying persuasion through Dungeons & Dragons, using virtual reality in social work education, and exploring artificial intelligence applications in introductory programming courses. Julie Baisden, assistant clinical professor at the Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, commented on sharing her research: “Sharing our research in spaces like this allows us to brainstorm next steps with our peers. Since everyone brings a different perspective to the table, it’s been incredibly helpful to bounce these new ideas off one another.”
Leslie Richardson, director of CAT, emphasized collaborative improvement among faculty: “Rather than simply teaching the way they were taught, FSU faculty are applying research and designing learning experiences that are much more effective,” Richardson said. “They’re testing out new ideas and receiving feedback from one another… It’s an opportunity for those doing amazing things to get their work out there and share it with colleagues so that more people can learn to do the same.”
Faculty interested in presenting next year can contact pro-teaching@fsu.edu for guidance.
