Representing the University of Houston-Victoria, Dr. Richard Gunasekara and Dr. Barba Patton were among UH System faculty members who gave presentations at the recent 2006 UH Faculty Showcase. The event is an opportunity for faculty from different disciplines and campuses to present teaching innovations they have successfully implemented in their courses. Gunasekara and Patton both gave breakout session presentations that highlighted their use of Internet-based applications.

 

Gunasekera spoke on his undergraduate forensic science course that makes use of WebCT resources. As a science, forensics requires laboratory practical exams and field trips to actual crime scenes. But with the assistance of instructional design staff, he was able to design an interactive crime scene online from an actual rape and murder homicide case and create practical exams that were carried out by students in lab locations in Victoria, Sugar Land, or at home (like isolating DNA at home from fish or a banana).

 

Patton spoke of the use of Adobe Breeze Meeting software to coordinate synchronous meetings between education students and the Center for Academic Excellence. By utilizing the meeting feature of Breeze, students are able to participate in center-sponsored study sessions from their home or office.

 

“One of the key factors that allows UHV to reach so many students in and outside the Golden Crescent is our faculty’s embrace of the latest technologies available to educators,” said UHV President Tim Hudson. “I am certain those who attended these presentations left with useful insight into tools they can put to use in their own courses.”

 

For more information about the 2006 UH Faculty Showcase, including video of the presentations, visit www.class.uh.edu/facultyshowcase.