Rachel V. Smydra is an Associate Professor in the Department of English, Creative Writing, and Film at Oakland University. In addition to teaching courses in writing and literature, she serves as the Internship Coordinator for English majors to assist students in bridging their academic studies with real-world professional experiences. Smydra’s service has included roles as a service-learning faculty fellow, Center of Teaching Learning faculty fellow, administrative hearings chair of the Academic Conduct Committee, and an editorial board member for Advances in Online Education: A Peer-Reviewed Journal. Smydra’s research focuses on building strong student-instructor relationships by using high-impact active learning practices, including integrating multimedia resources, such as podcasts, to deepen student engagement and foster critical thinking. Her current projects center around examining faculty perceptions of academic writing, infusing a geocritical lens into the literature classroom, and exploring student perceptions around curiosity.
Dr. Rachel Smydra
Presentation Title: Cultivating Curiousity-Driven Learning: Student Insights into What Fuels Their Engagement in Online Courses
Oakland University, United States
Past Speaker