Indiana University East’s Center for Faculty Development is providing grant funding for two faculty members for research.

Deborah Miller

Deborah Miller, assistant professor of psychology, is the recipient of the Erwin and Priscilla Boschmann Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Grant.

The Erwin and Priscilla Boschmann Scholarship grant opportunity is made possible through the generous contribution of Erwin and Priscilla Boschmann. This award is offered annually to full-time faculty to support research in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) at IU East.

Miller is a faculty member for the IU East School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Her project is “Improving Engagement and Sense of Community in Online Courses Using Popular Technology.”

Through this project, Miller is exploring whether the use of specifically designed TikTok assignments will enhance students’ engagement with the course and feelings of classroom community, and whether this varies based on gender and age.

She will research how the use of new media, in this case TikTok videos, could provide a way for instructors to incorporate creative assignments and learning activities as well as to create a personal connection with students.

Miller received her Doctorate in Counseling Psychology, her Master of Arts in Counseling and her Bachelor of Science in Creative Writing from Ball State University. She is a licensed psychologist with a private practice in Muncie. She teaches courses in psychology, history of psychology in Europe, multicultural counseling, cooperative work experience, and others.

Miller’s research interests include masculinity, LGBT issues, fatherhood and clinical judgment.

Each year, the Center for Faculty Development offers one Faculty Fellowship in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). This opportunity is designed to offer faculty members an opportunity to cultivate and share their knowledge, techniques, and information on a particular teaching topic. This is an excellent opportunity for new and experienced faculty to build a foundation or develop a new research trajectory in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.

Beth South

Beth South, assistant librarian of access and technical services and archivist, is the recipient of the Center for Faculty Development Faculty Fellowship in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. South is a staff member for the Campus Library. Her project is “Exploring Open Educational Resources (OER) at IU East.”

Through this study, South will gain a better understanding of Open Educational Resources (OER) and use for the campus. OER are any teaching, learning, and research resources that are freely available and shared under an intellectual property license for use.

South will explore faculty knowledge and potential use for OER, support or training needed, and educational programs available for faculty. The information will help develop a plan for OER programs to meet faculty needs. The information about IU East faculty awareness and use of OER will also be helpful in future discussions and priority planning with the IU OER Advisory Council.

She received her M.L.S. and M.I.S. in Library Science and Information Science from Indiana University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and History from Purdue University.

South teaches an IU East Campus History Course online. Her research interests include open educational resources, diversity in library and archives collections and sustainability practices.