DL Ambassadors - Deanna Spraker

Deanna Spraker is an associate professor of biology at Wytheville Community College with an interest in course development and curriculum instruction. She has been teaching with Carolina Distance Learning kits since 2021.

What is the most fulfilling part of your work?

The most fulfilling part of my work is when I see excitement from students about learning!

Is there an example of a student’s reaction that has stayed with you?

One of my students emailed me that she loved the lab kits and that her child had said after they saw the kit that they wanted to be a scientist.

What do you think would have added to your own learning experience when you were a university student?

I have taken over 30 online science courses, and I think lab kits would have been wonderful to have in order to engage with the material.

What ways did you find to engage with course material in your classroom in the absence of hands-on kits?

I used a website called Anatomy Arcade with activities called Whack-a-Bone and Poke-a-Muscle. I also had students make or draw a skin diagram. 

What roles have you taken on as an educator? What interests have you been able to pursue at your institution, and which would you like to pursue?

I have worked teaching anatomy, biology, and environmental science as well as education courses. My job at the college has allowed me to also be involved with 3rd grade outreach STEM activities, which I have really enjoyed. I have also set up an outreach years ago involving a reading day for 3rd graders on our campus trail.

What have been some of your favorite outreach STEM activities? How do you try to build interest for these young learners, and even for your college students?

I created an on-campus activity where we had 3rd graders on campus for a literacy reading day. We went to trees on our trail, and at each tree students listened to someone read a story or a poem about the tree. The poem or story would have facts about the trees like what the tree is used for or cultural significance of the trees. The students got a WCC backpack and a booklet with all of the poems or stories. At each tree, they also got some type of trinket or 3D-printed item to add to their bag.

What is one of the best ways that you found to connect with your students, both in-person and distance learners?

I usually buy my students food one day in the semester and plan a big study day just to chat with them. In distance courses, I have them post pictures in the first discussion about their passions. The lab kits have also been very engaging for our students. I have them dress up their skeleton model and post a lab verification picture of their favorite item in the lab kits.

What are some hurdles you face with making that connection? 

The hurdles are when students are off campus and don’t engage with the course content as much as I would like them to.

How do you feel using Distance Learning kits have enhanced your teaching and/or your students’ learning experience? Have any of your students given feedback on their experience with these kits?

We have had tons of feedback about the kits. The students have really enjoyed the skeleton and the fake blood typing lab. The kits have transformed our distance courses to a whole new level.