Professor featured in UVA campaign highlighting impactful teaching techniques

When the University of Virginia’s Center for Teaching Excellence released their “Small Changes, Big Impact” series today, UVA Wise’s Cody Sanders, associate professor of physical education, was among those highlighted.

The series features videos that showcase the small yet effective ways that both UVA and UVA Wise faculty engage students, build community in their courses, and use technology to enhance students’ learning. The goal of the initiative is to explore and inspire other faculty to share their most innovative teaching practices.

Sanders is featured for improving the discussion board of the Learning Management System she utilizes. The collaborative space she organized fostered enhanced engagement, accountability and idea sharing as well as constructive critique.

Sanders also worked to help each student create a memoji, or customizable avatar, which were then used to create a virtual sense of belonging.

“Every time students visit the LMS, they are reminded that they are not alone and we are all human beings,” Sanders said. I even had students incorporate memojis into projects, which really makes me smile.”