John Hoh, senior IT director for the Commonwealth Campuses and chief technology officer for the Harrisburg campus, has been named interim associate vice president for Teaching and Learning with Technology. Hoh takes over for Jennifer Sparrow, who led TLT since 2014 until her departure on November 1.
TLT focuses on innovation in teaching and learning, strategic opportunities for faculty development, the advancement of active learning spaces, and research into the scholarship of technology-enhanced teaching. Its programs and initiatives are constantly evolving to reflect the changes in technology and research.
"John has been a leader in IT at Penn State for nearly 14 years and has worked closely with TLT for much of that time," said Michael Büsges, interim vice president for information technology and chief information officer. "He understands the department's vision and the impact they have on our faculty and students, and he will be an advocate for their continued work to support the University's mission."
Hoh has an undergraduate degree in systems engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, a master's degree in computer science from the University of New Haven, and a doctorate in education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. While he is interim AVP, he will continue as senior IT director for the Commonwealth Campuses. Gary Barb, associate director for IT at Harrisburg, will temporarily take over as campus technology officer for Penn State Harrisburg.
"I am looking forward to engaging with the talented TLT team, who are already known for their great work in support of the University," Hoh said. "I am particularly vested in the TLT projects that are aligned with Penn State IT’s strategic direction and helping align technology to match the strategic academic goals at all campuses."
Some of the latest TLT initiatives include:
- Empowering advisers and instructors with learning analytics to support student success initiatives
- Piloting a TLT Coaches program at the Schuylkill campus to upskill students to support faculty, staff and students
- Renovating the Dreamery in the Shields Building, which offers hands-on experience with emerging technology
- Providing Zoom technical assistance for courses through the Tech TA program
- Establishing a data-informed pedagogy community for faculty to discuss data-informed topics and tools
- Supporting increased accessibility of instructional videos used for New Student Orientation
- Expanding Maker Commons to include more diverse service offerings to appeal to a broader range of students and faculty
- Upgrading the One Button Studio to provide cloud video storage and higher-quality recordings
Hoh said he is excited to work with the team on these initiatives and their established programs, including Faculty Fellows, the Faculty Engagement Awards, and the TLT Symposium.