Experiential Learning: Simulations, Case Studies, and Computer Science Projects

In this panel, BU Faculty will present a variety of ways they are integrating experiential learning opportunities into their classes. Examples include home safety simulations, student case studies, and computer science projects.

Ariel Tichnor-Wagner (Moderator), Program Director of MA in Educational Policy Studies and Lecturer, Wheelock College of Education & Human Development

Dr. Ariel Tichnor-Wagner is a lecturer and program director of the Educational Policy Studies program at the BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. She is also affiliated faculty with the Wheelock Educational Policy Center (WEPC). Her research focuses on education policy and politics, with an emphasis on policy and program implementation, continuous improvement research, school improvement, civics education, global citizenship education, and teacher policy. Having begun her career as a public school teacher, Dr. Tichnor-Wagner is deeply committed to research that supports educators in designing and implementing policies and practices that support the academic and social-emotional development of diverse and historically underserved students.

Assessing Small Group Simulated Patient Experiences on Students’ Perceptions of Learning and Confidence

Mary Beth Holmes, Clinical Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences

Dr. Mary Beth Holmes is an Assistant Clinical Professor and Co-director of Clinical Education at Boston University College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College in the Department of Physical Therapy. Her clinical practice has been in the acute care setting with a primary focus treating individuals in the Neurologic Intensive Care Unit. Dr. Holmes teaches on topics related to learning and behavior change theory within the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Boston University. Dr. Holmes received her Masters of Science degree in physical therapy from Sacred Heart University and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions. She earned her PhD in an Adult Learning and Human Development at Lesley University. Her interest involves researching the role of common factors present within the patient-provider relationship and exploring their influences in physical therapy outcomes and practice.

Dara L'Italien, Lecturer of Physical Therapy, Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences

Dara is a Lecturer and co-Director of Clinical Education in the Department of Physical Therapy at Boston University Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. She instructs first-year Doctor of Physical Therapy students and arranges/oversees their clinical experiences. Dara teaches content in prosthetics, clinical medicine, and professional responsibilities/behavior. She is a Board-Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist in Physical Therapy and practices at Spaulding Outpatient Center in Plymouth, MA. In her role there, she has served as a mentor to Spaulding Network physical therapists, providing in-services and patient consults for challenging cases pertaining to prosthetics.

Home-Based Assessment Project: Engaging Health Professional Students Using Innovative Technology

Jordana Muroff, Associate Professor and Chair of Clinical Practice, School of Social Work

Jordana Muroff is passionate about developing empirically supported mental health interventions based in strong community collaborations to make them more easily disseminated, linguistically appropriate and culturally relevant. She is particularly interested in health technology innovations that help address health inequities, stigma and structural oppression. “There is a dearth of culturally and linguistically competent mental health services for Latinx populations in the US and greater reliance on mobile technology to access the internet,” she explains. “Phone and internet access are no longer just a ‘convenience’ but a ‘necessity.’” Muroff is the author of Group Treatment for Hoarding Disorder: Therapist Guide (Oxford University Press, 2014). Her research on mental health (e.g., hoarding) and substance use disorders has appeared in American Journal of Public Health and Depression and Anxiety. At BU, Muroff serves on the Strategic Planning Task Force’s Committee on Scholarly Resources and Services—Libraries and as a field instructor for MSW students in collaboration with community partners in housing and mental health services. Outside of the university, she is a member of the pre-conference and conference subcommittees for the Annual Conference of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) and an editorial board member for the Oxford University Press ABCT Series on Implementation of Clinical Approaches.

Craig Slater, Clinical Assistant Professor and Director for Interprofessional Education and Practice, Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences

Craig Slater is the Director, Interprofessional Education and Practice at Boston University, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College. In this role, he has implemented an interprofessional education curriculum for students in occupational therapy, nutrition, athletic training, physical therapy and speech language pathology programs. Over the past 11 years, Dr. Slater has been developing and delivering interprofessional education in undergraduate and graduate programs at universities in both Australia and the United States. He also has experience working in the public sector, developing and implementing large-scale interprofessional training programs for health professionals working in local health districts across the state of New South Wales. Dr. Slater has practiced as an occupational therapist in Australia and the United Kingdom. Dr. Slater’s research focuses on interprofessional collaboration in education and practice, and student self-directed learning approaches.

Bronwyn Keefe, Assistant Dean of Workforce & Professional Development, Research Assistant Professor, and Director of CADER & The Network for Professional Education, School of Social Work

Bronwyn Keefe is BUSSW’s Assistant Dean of Workforce and Professional Development, Research Assistant Professor, and Director of BUSSW’s Center for Aging and Disability Education and Research (CADER) and The Network for Professional Education. She is passionate about educating practitioners and making an impact on their knowledge, skills, and values in key practice areas with older adults. Through CADER, Keefe develops curriculum and evaluates training initiatives for professionals who work with older adults and people with disabilities. In 2019, she was awarded a four-year Geriatric Academic Career Award from the Health Resources Service Administration (HRSA) to build on her commitment to train an interprofessional gerontology workforce. Keefe has also been funded on many projects related to behavioral health, with a focus on building the capacity of providers and communities in understanding the importance of mental health, substance use, and developing age-friendly initiatives to improve the lives of older adults. Her research interests are in long-term service and support delivery, community-based programs and services, intersection of aging and disability programs and policies, workforce development, curriculum development, and program and training evaluation. Her research has been published in the Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, the Journal of Aging and Social Policy, and the Journal of Gerontological Social Work. She serves on the boards of the Eldercare Workforce Alliance and the Massachusetts Gerontology Association, where she is the president."

Karen Jacobs, Associate Dean of Digital Learning & Innovation, Clinical Professor, and Program Director of Online Professional Occupational Therapy, Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences

Dr. Jacobs received her Doctorate in Education from University of Massachusetts; a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Boston University and Bachelor of Art from Washington University. Dr. Jacobs' career as an occupational therapy practitioner spans over four decades. She is Associate Dean of Digital Learning & Innovation, Program Director of the post-professional doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OT) program & Clinical Professor at Boston University’s Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences. She played a pivotal role in advancing backpack safety through American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) National Backpack Awareness Day & promoting the recognition of occupational therapy through OT Global Day of Service. As a Fellow of AOTA, the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society & the International Ergonomics Association, she has been recognized for her outstanding contributions as a scholar, professor, advocate, & mentor, who has inspired countless students & practitioners through her expertise in ergonomics, artificial intelligence, & entrepreneurship. She held leadership roles as the president & vice president of AOTA contributing to the growth & development of OT & received awards such as a Fulbright Scholarship & Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship Award. She authored numerous publications & is the founding editor-in-chief of WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation.

Charting New Horizons: The MAST Program's Impact on Experiential Learning in Software Engineering

Will Tomlinson, Director of Software & Application Innovation Lab (SAIL), Rafik B. Hariri Institute for Computing and Computational Science & Engineering

William Tomlinson is a proven servant technical leader with over a decade of industry experience in hardware and software development and leading large-scale interdisciplinary technical projects. Currently, William is the Director of the Software & Application Innovation Lab (SAIL), Boston University’s professionally staffed software engineering firm. In this capacity, William is responsible for overseeing operations, shaping, and implementing long-term strategic plans, and managing organizational growth while seeking to develop new opportunities and partnerships. Before joining SAIL, William held the roles of Principal Engineer and Group Leader (technical manager) for the Embedded & Comm. Systems Group at Draper Laboratory (Cambridge, MA). Here he demonstrated proficiency in technical leadership, business development, strategic planning, program management, and developing mission-critical systems for wireless communications. William received his Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from Northeastern University and an M.S. and B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State University and North Carolina A&T State University, respectively.