Trine faculty take part in Teaching Professor Conference

Four Trine University faculty attended the 22nd annual Teaching Professor Conference, held June 6-8 in Washington, D.C.

The event drew nearly 700 attendees from colleges and universities across the country. Sessions focused on evidence-based teaching strategies in higher education.

Jeremy Rentz, Ph.D., Schantz Distinguished Professor in the Reiners Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and a member of the Teaching Professor Conference advisory board, said that Trine faculty participation in such conferences provides benefits that ripple out in every direction.

“By presenting sessions, leading panels or even hosting informal gatherings, we contribute to the national conversation on teaching — and raise Trine’s visibility as an institution deeply committed to instructional excellence,” he said. “Our students ultimately benefit from instructors who return to the classroom energized, equipped with new strategies and more deeply committed than ever to student learning.

Leading sessions

Dr. Rentz led a session titled, “Assessment Strategies for the AI Era that Promote Student Learning.”

In his session, Dr. Rentz emphasized the importance of designing assessments that encourage students to engage deeply with material themselves — by grading process more than product, clarifying the “why” behind each assignment and incorporating elements that are difficult for AI to replicate. While he noted that nothing is “AI-proof,” he said faculty can make assessments more “AI-resistant” through thoughtful design.

Dr. Rentz also contributed to a panel titled “How and Why We Teach” alongside other board members.

Joanna Claudy, assistant professor in the Department of Humanities and Communication, attended for the first time and presented a well-received session titled “From Player to Creator: Using Board Games for Interdisciplinary Learning.”

Her session explored how both commercial and student-designed board games can foster critical thinking, storytelling and audience awareness. She brought four original student-made games from her Trine Art and Science of Board Game classes for attendees to examine and interact with.

Michael Smith, assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics, also attended for the first time.

Rentz said Smith fully embraced the spirit of the conference, even hosting an impromptu game night at a board-game-themed pub for fellow attendees.

“He was a great example of Trine faculty leading and building community,” Rentz said.

John Patton, Ph.D., professor in the Bock Department of Biomedical Engineering, also attended.

“Dr. Patton has been a longtime advocate for applying effective pedagogy in STEM disciplines and continues to represent Trine at national teaching events,” Rentz said.