Faculty Spotlight – Amy Gregory

I teach upper level coursework that builds on foundational terminology, concepts and applications that are consistent among seven different lodging-related courses that form the Lodging Specialization/Certification at UCF RCHM. Despite how good, interested or motivated students are, they often need reminders or re-teaching of previous concepts since time between courses often results in various degrees of recollection and/or understanding. The PAL project in which I’m involved includes two other faculty members that teach courses that are either pre-requisites or alternative electives to the courses I teach. We all had been taking valuable course time to remind, refresh and re-educate our students on six fundamental concepts that are consistent throughout their lodging coursework.

Our PAL project provides common content that educates and allows students to self-assess understanding and interest within the lower level courses, and also forms the content for students’ own remediation as they remind/refresh themselves on the common concepts in more advanced applications in upper level (including graduate) coursework. Students are now able to take the time that they need or want to master the foundational concepts while faculty are freed up to focus on the appropriate level of application, knowledge and understanding within our coursework. In addition, the commonality of core concepts and consistent delivery of content, terminology and application builds a familiarity for students that seems to have improved their knowledge and mastery.

Describe the impact PAL has had on your teaching and/or students’ learning

Though very labor intensive to create the content, the commonality of core concepts and consistent delivery of content, terminology and application builds a familiarity for students that seems to have improved their knowledge and mastery. In addition, it has increased faculty collaboration and provided a solid common core from which we can each develop our courses.