In this episode, Thomas Schrand, PhD, shares how the Hallmarks Core and its Power Skills cultivate adaptable, intellectually curious graduates prepared for an evolving, AI-influenced world. He offers practical insights into learner-centered teaching, critical thinking, and reflective practice that help students build durable, human-centered competencies. Educators will gain strategies for strengthening meaningful learning across disciplines.

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Guest: Thomas Schrand, PhD

• Role: Associate Dean for General Education & Professor of History
• Expertise: Curriculum development, pedagogy, general education, and active learning.

Quote from the Episode:

“At the end of four years of this experience… you end up as someone who can think on their feet, someone who has confidence in what they're saying and their ability to grapple with challenging and nuanced questions.” - Thomas Schrand, PhD

Getting Started:

• Ask students to apply course concepts to real‑world or professional scenarios, reinforcing both disciplinary relevance and transferable competencies.
• Start each class with a device‑free expectation to promote presence, note‑taking by hand, and deeper engagement with peers and content.
• Build in reflective moments—such as end‑of‑week or end‑of‑unit prompts asking students to identify key takeaways or what learning mattered most to them.
• Contact usto talk about learning design and incorporating these skills into your classroom.

Terms to Know:

The terms below are mentioned in the episode, and for context and clarity, we've provided brief definitions of potentially unfamiliar terms you may hear.

• Learner Centered Teaching: An approach that focuses on how students learn—emphasizing engagement, active participation, and cognitive processes rather than instructor-led delivery.
• Active Learning: Any instructional method that requires students to be metacognitive and engage in meaningful activities (e.g., discussion, problem solving) rather than passively listening to lectures.
• Cognitive Psychology: A branch of psychology which explores the mental process related to perceiving, attending, thinking, language, learning, and memory.

Selected Resources: The Learning Curve team curated this list based on university resources or guest recommendations.

1. The Science of Learning – Academic Commons Self-Paced Program
2. Designing Learning that Endures: The Science of Learning in Practice: Academic Commons Self-Paced Program
3. The Hallmarks Core Program – Thomas Jefferson University Page
4. Major, C. H., Harris, M. S., & Zakrajsek, T. (2021). Teaching for learning : 101 intentionally designed educational activities to put students on the path to success. (Second edition.). ROUTLEDGE.
5. Zakrajsek, T., & Nilson, L. B. (2023). Teaching at its best: a research-based resource for college instructors (Fifth edition.). Jossey-Bass, a Wiley Brand.
6. Academic Commons Upcoming Workshops and Events