Biggadike Innovation Grant Workshop Empowers Engineering Educators
The College of Engineering hosted its inaugural Biggadike Innovation Grant Teaching Assistant Workshop on Aug. 9 and 10 to prepare graduate students and instructors for the academic year and enhance the quality of education within the college.
Developed and hosted by Department of Civil Engineering associate professors Sarah Hernandez and Cameron Murray, the two-day workshop attracted 37 participants for invaluable insights, tools and strategies. As the college gears up for the academic year, the workshop served as an important avenue to ensure teaching assistants are prepared to excel in their roles.
Faculty and staff leaders engaged participants in a series of interactive sessions designed to cover a diverse range of topics. The workshops delved into essential areas including roles and responsibilities, active learning methods, effective use of board notes, holding productive office hours, harnessing the power of online Blackboard tools, mastering the art of grading, and ensuring classroom and lab safety.
Sessions were led by faculty and staff from across the College of Engineering: Andrew Braham (civil), Kevin Hall (civil), Sarah Hernandez (civil), Tammy Lutz-Rechtin (chemical), Anna Phillips and Abi Moser (UARK Blackboard), Eric Specking (industrial) and Heather Walker (chemical).
The program culminated with participants delivering microteaching demonstrations facilitated by faculty mentors Eric Fernstrom (civil), Lekshmi Sasidharan (civil), Kelly Sullivan (industrial), Tish Pohl (industrial), Clint Wood (civil) and Wen Zhang (civil).
At the close of the workshop, participants who successfully completed the training received certificates recognizing their commitment to enhancing their teaching skills.
The success of the inaugural Biggadike Innovation Grant Teaching Assistant Workshop ushers in a new era of teaching excellence for the College of Engineering. By equipping teaching assistants with tools they need to succeed, the college is investing in students' academic success and contributing to the broader advancement of engineering education.
The Biggadike Innovation Grants are made possible by a generous donation of the late Robert H. Biggadike, a 1958 graduate in mechanical engineering. The Biggadike endowment supports innovative programs within the college.
List of Participants
Olabode Akindolani - Chemical Engineering
Tijesunimi Akintunde - Mechanical Engineering
Mads Ancker - Biomedical Engineering
Mohammad Tahir Ansari - Civil Engineering
Alexis Applequist - Biomedical Engineering
Kasey Baker - Mechanical Engineering
Sanjeev Bhurtyal - Civil Engineering
Jackson Black - Chemical Engineering
Abbey Bryan - Biomedical Engineering
Benjamin Butter - Biomedical Engineering
Simon Chaisouang - Data Science
Lance Cordes - Biomedical Engineering
Saubana Dada - Chemical Engineering
Ben Davis - Civil Engineering
Chandler Dye - Mechanical Engineering
Damilola Fadipe - Chemical Engineering
Xiaolei Hao - Biomedical Engineering
Kabiraj Khatiwada - Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Julia Loshelder - Civil Engineering
Riasad Bin Mahbub - Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Umme Marium Mim - Biomedical Engineering
Katherine A. Miranda - Biomedical Engineering
Breyonna Morgan - Chemical Engineering
Oladipupo Ogolo - Chemical Engineering
Toluwanimi Ogundipe - Civil Engineering
Damilola Oni - Data Science
Subhadipto Poddar - Civil Engineering
Anik Roy - Civil Engineering
Braden Stevens - Mechanical Engineering
Tanner Turben - Civil Engineering
Eric Walker - Chemical Engineering
Amanda Williams - Mechanical Engineering
Yiting Xiao - Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Wenbo Xu - Biomedical Engineering
Zhexi Zhu - Biomedical Engineering
