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Course number: RPTA-21: First Year Seminar

Community , Innovative, Learning-Styles

Reflection on Instructional Change:

One practice I implemented to promote a civil learning environment was the strategic use of technology. I began my lecture with a yes-or-no poll using Mentimeter: “Do you currently use A.I. in any aspect of your life?” This low-pressure question allowed all students to participate without fear of being wrong, resulting in 100% participation.

Next, I used a word cloud activity to ask, “How do you already use A.I. in your daily life?” This encouraged critical thinking while providing a visual representation of collective responses, supporting visual learners and fostering communal learning. Students then paired up to discuss their observations and responses before we reconvened for a large group discussion on, “How can A.I. be helpful and harmful in the college journey?” These activities enabled individual engagement and collaborative dialogue while addressing different learning styles.

Implementing this practice had a significant impact on both my teaching and student learning. Evidence of 100% participation was reflected in the data—every student contributed to the Mentimeter poll and the word cloud activity. This inclusivity helped students feel seen and valued while fostering a sense of community as their individual contributions became part of the collective learning process.

This approach also shifted my teaching to be more student-centered. By starting with simple, interactive activities and progressing to deeper discussions, I created a natural path for critical thinking and meaningful engagement.

The practice and reflection assignments were equally impactful, helping me contextualize my learning and identify strategies that I could even implement in asynchronous classes next semester.

My "ah-ha" moment during the observe-and-analyze session came from watching a colleague’s video, which reinforced the importance of moving around the room to foster an inclusive environment.

Evidence of Instructional Change

In class instruction

Providing course instructions at the start of the lecture.

Word Cloud In class activity

This is the word cloud that was created in class as we explored how we currently us A.I.

CISLE Completion Badge

My course completion badge

Practice and Reflect on: Checking for Understanding

Course Syllabus

Faculty Bio

My name is Troy Nichols, and I have been a lecturer in the RPTA department for nearly 10 years. As a proud Sac State alumnus, my goal is to create a classroom that is an emotionally, physically, and mentally safe space where all students feel seen and are empowered to think critically and collaborate with one another.

This work was supported by:

National Science Foundation Hispanic Serving Institution Project STEM Zone DUE 1832335

US Department of Education Hispanic Serving Institution Project Degree with a Purpose P031S210061

US Department of Education Hispanic Serving Institution Project STEM4Equity P031C210012

*Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the US Department of Education.

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