The Maricopa Center for Learning and Instruction (mcli) is pleased to announce recipients of the 2012/13 Maricopa Institute for Learning (MIL) Fellowships. Please join me in congratulating these exceptional faculty members:

Ms. Analicia Buentello, English Faculty, Estrella Mountain Community College
Ms. Buentello’s project seeks to transform underprepared Developmental English students into successful, empowered, and active learners through the creation of a transformative learning model. She plans to utilize a variety of strategies and will be examining the success of students enrolled in a semester long model block of three five-week classes, English 091, English 101, and English 102.

Dr. Alisa Cooper, English Faculty, Glendale Community College
Dr. Cooper’s project researches effective practices to structure online asynchronous discussions with particular emphasis on student led small group interaction. She will be investigating cooperative and collaborative learning structures in a desire to create meaningful online discussion for students and relevant forms of assessment for the instructor.

Ms. Shannon Manuelito, Biology Faculty, Estrella Mountain Community College
Ms. Manuelito’s project seeks to elucidate and document self-regulated learning (SRL) behavior in a hybrid or partial online learning environment, specifically in a hybrid laboratory science course. She will develop a community college student profile in regards to SRL behaviors and create a learning module that can be used in other classes.

Ms. Cherise “CJ” Robb, Interior Design Faculty, Mesa Community College
Ms. Robb’s project follows a four year inquiry which began as an attempt to assist first and second year interior design students in the development of spatial and volumetric capabilities. She will be testing different technical software applications designed to teach students and will be evaluating the role that technical software has in developing students’ spatial and volumetric skills.

Ms. Mona Scott, Sociology Faculty, Mesa Community College
Ms. Scott’s project investigates strategies for reducing stereotype threats in the classroom, especially for developmental students. She will also create strategies to reduce the guilt and backlash students experience when learning about Indigenous Peoples, women, and non-whites.

Mrs. Karin Sherrill, Nursing Faculty, Mesa Community College
Mrs. Sherrill’s project seeks to improve clinical performance, clinical reasoning, and practice readiness for nursing students through the use of measureable learning activities specific to program outcome expectations and performance criteria. She will create leveled learning activities, student improvement plans, and assessments throughout the project.

Thank you to all who applied and those who assisted in the selection process.

Stephanie J. Fujii, Ph.D.
Acting District Director
Academic Affairs Support Programs and Services
Maricopa Center for Learning and Instruction (mcli)