The new Communication Pedagogy Grant is designed to support communication educators in exploring innovative pedagogical practices, assessment design, and learning environments. This year’s recipients include:
- Translating Research Into Practice: Fostering a Confirming Learning Environment
- Zac Johnson, an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Communication Studies at California State University, Fullerton, and Sara LaBelle, an Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of Academic Programs and Faculty Development at the School of Communication at Chapman University, will receive $13,200 for their proposal titled “Translating Research Into Practice: Fostering a Confirming Learning Environment.” They will develop a toolkit for collegiate instructors to foster a confirming learning environment, featuring strategies, activities, and best practices to promote student and instructor engagement, with resources available on the NCA website.
- Experiential Place-based Communication: Storytelling with Cultural and Physical Landscapes in New Mexico.
- Jaelyn deMaría, an Assistant Professor and Ph.D. Program Coordinator in the Department of Communication & Journalism at the University of New Mexico, and Kee Straits, Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Tinkuy Life Community Transformations, will receive $15,000 for their proposal titled “Experiential Place-based Communication: Storytelling with Cultural and Physical Landscapes in New Mexico.” This will be a place-based, experiential learning model linking students with the landscapes of New Mexico, integrating ecocultural studies and environmental justice to connect theoretical and community knowledge within the Rio Grande watershed. This proposal was envisioned as a flexible model that can be applied to various places and spaces in different regional landscapes based on faculty interest and community needs.