Actor and ISU alum Gary Cole tells us about the importance of innovation in the classroom and beyond. Here are some stories from Redbirds who are currently benefiting from innovations Illinois State has made in the past and are looking to continue in the future.
College of Education: Delaney Brummel
Delaney Brummel talks about how the College of Education is preparing her to be a middle school language teacher.
“The College of Education is preparing me for my dream of teaching middle school language arts with an up-to-date curriculum that includes modern facilities like Studio Teach. Studio Teach is a collaborative work space that has provided me the opportunity to use new technology in the teaching field, including smart boards and a 3D printer. This space allows me to collaborate with other students and grow in my knowledge of the best and newest teaching practices. I’m excited to integrate these technologies in my own classroom when I land my first teaching job!”
College of Applied Science and Technology: Antonio Munoz
“I appreciate ISU recognizing the importance of cybersecurity in today’s world, and creating a new cybersecurity major. What the faculty and staff have taught me, along with my internship experiences, has made me feel very prepared when I graduate to enter the cybersecurity field.”
Mennonite College of Nursing: Jessica Jatis
“ISU’s nursing simulation lab blew me away and was one of the many reasons I chose this university. It offers a safe environment to practice nursing skills … like simulations where I ran a code blue and performed CPR on a mannequin. I would eventually like to become a nursing professor at a university. So who knows, one day I might be teaching in the classrooms or simulation lab where I once learned.”
College of Arts and Sciences: Doris Houston
“This past year we became a part of the First Star Academy national network, led by director Dr. Deneca Avant. In our inaugural year, we served Central Illinois 9th and 10th graders, providing the academic, life skills, and adult support needed to successfully transition to higher education and adulthood. By taking a holistic approach that merges research and application, College of Arts and Sciences can help solve our world’s most challenging problems.”
Amy Sickman describes innovation at Milner Library.
Milner Library: Amy Sickman
“As a student employee of Milner Library, I see every day that it’s an important resource for all ISU students. Between the facility itself and the faculty, Milner is used in many ways: for collaborative projects, its technology resources, the network of scholars available to help students, as a multimedia outlet, and as a place to gather information. Creating new and innovative technology spaces in Milner will ensure that students have the necessary support and resources to learn and explore in our fast-paced world.”
College of Fine Arts: Megan Hildebrandt
“The Fine Arts are uniquely poised to offer innovative solutions to complex problems. For example, music therapists use music to address non-musical goals. As a clinical practicum supervisor for the school, I’ve seen Alzheimer’s patients who rarely speak, light up and sing whole verses to favorite songs. Hospital patients in pain relax and fall asleep. Grade school teachers in awe as their student with unmanageable behaviors follows directions to play the drum.”
College of Business: Christopher Davis
“Last year we participated in the College of Business Start Up Showcase and presented our idea for a new engineering company that specializes in 3D visualization tools and augmented reality. We were able to throw our ideas out into the wild with different people of all backgrounds, which helped us refine our plans.”
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