Kentucky State University faculty participated in a professional learning event on April 17 in Louisville to explore new strategies for supporting student success in mathematics and physics. The event focused on ways to help students engage with challenging concepts, receive faster feedback, and access support outside of traditional classroom hours.
The initiative aims to address moments when difficult problems could either hinder or deepen student learning. Faculty members including Dr. Michael Galbraith, Dr. Sujeewa Hapuarachchi, Ms. Sandamala Hettigoda, Dr. Dharma Khatiwada, and Dr. Johnathan Rogers attended the sessions designed to improve classroom engagement.
During the event, educators learned practical methods such as using kirigami—the art of folding and cutting paper—to illustrate mathematical ideas like perimeter, area, and infinity through hands-on activities. Other sessions introduced digital resources that will be available starting Fall 2026, such as artificial intelligence-supported study tools, practice problems, virtual flashcards, videos, exam preparation materials, and tutoring support.
These resources are intended to assist students working on assignments after class or when they cannot attend office hours or campus tutoring services. “The AI tutor is a great tool that allows students who may not make it to office hours or on-campus tutoring an opportunity to get the help they need on their assignments,” said Dr. Rogers, assistant professor of mathematics. “Of course, we will teach students how to use these new features responsibly, but we know that AI is not going anywhere. It is a new tool in education that we need to embrace and take advantage of in and outside of our classrooms.”
Faculty also examined a classroom response system enabling instructors to ask questions during class and view real-time responses from students working independently or collaboratively.
As Kentucky State prepares for the Fall 2026 semester, mathematics and physics faculty plan to implement these strategies with the goal of increasing student engagement and persistence in courses central to science- and health-related fields.
