The University of Waterloo’s Learning Innovation and Teaching Enhancement (LITE) Grants fund projects investigating innovative approaches to enhancing teaching and fostering deep student learning at Waterloo. A molecular augmented reality app and a student wellness check-in activity are two projects led by Waterloo scientists that received funding.
Development
and
Implementation
of
a
Universal
Augmented
Reality App
to
Enhance
Classroom
Teaching
in
Chemistry
and
Biochemistry
Thorsten
Dieckmann
and
Steve
Forsey
Department
of
Chemistry
The
structures
of
molecules
and
atoms
are
the
basis
for
many
macroscopic
properties
and
functions
in
chemistry
and
biochemistry.
In
order
to
succeed
in
their
studies,
Chemistry
students
must
develop
a
solid
understanding
of
these
relationships
between
structure
and
function.
This project will develop and test a new tool to assist instructors in teaching these topics. An Augmented Reality app will be developed that can be used to display and manipulate molecular structures as if they are floating directly in front of the student. Next, we will test the impact of this technology on student engagement and performance in the classroom. It is anticipated that the use of the AR app in class will increase student engagement and active learning in the classroom thereby increasing understanding of course content.
Assessing
the
effectiveness
of
a
novel
wellness
check-in
activity
among
third-year
pharmacy
students
Sherilyn
Houle,
Heidi
Fernandes,
Cynthia
Richard,
Kaitlin
Bynkoski
and
Becky
Ewan
School
of
Pharmacy
Pharmacy's curriculum is demanding and our wellness impacts our ability to learn and provide care for others. This project will evaluate the effectiveness of a new wellness check-in activity for third-year students at the School of Pharmacy. The activity will educate students on recognizing and addressing burnout. It's the first initiative to be employed by a pharmacy school in Canada to develop and examine the impacts of a wellness check-in among pharmacy students.
Since 2012, a total of 95 Learning Innovation and Teaching Enhancement (LITE) Seed Grants have been awarded to instructors and staff investigating innovative approaches to enhancing teaching and learning at Waterloo. Funded by the Office of the Associate Vice President, Academic, and administered by Centre for Teaching Excellence, LITE Grants are awarded annually. Seed Grants support small-scale teaching and learning investigations or activities to develop your instructional skills with funding of up to $7,500.