NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) — Two Heartland University professors are exploring technology in their classrooms. Distinguished Professor Kim McHale and Stephanie Kratz have been selected as recipients of the 2023 Digital Learning Course His Hero Education Grant.
“These grants are funded by Course Hero to allow educators to conduct almost any research they desire,” said Kim McHale, Distinguished Professor of Mathematics.
Kratz, a distinguished professor of English, is using the funding to study whether microlessons can help manage teacher burnout. She created microlessons using the 7Taps microlearning app for her project “Burnout Management.” Faculty in the liberal arts and social sciences departments receive weekly microlessons during the semester to help manage burnout.
“One is to set boundaries with students and make sure they know when they can expect a quick response from us,” Kratz said. “Everyone expects to be working 24/7 because everything is online and on smartphones, which of course is not a good way to avoid burnout.”
As a mathematics professor, McHale will focus on the impact of AI on student learning. Her Calculus 1 students explore AI programs related to mathematics. McHale believes it is her duty as an educator to teach students how to use new advances in technology responsibly.
“How to use it while you’re still learning the subject matter. Don’t just rely on someone telling you information without learning anything,” McHale said. “And the way I do it is I talk to my students about it, I put it in the classroom, and I say, ‘Here’s how we’re going to use it.’ So, just give it a try and use it. I try to be open to that.”
At the end of the semester, Kratz and McHale will report their findings to Course Hero.
