Open SUNY Online Teaching Ambassador 2019: Polytechnic – Megan Dischiavo

Megan Dischiavo’s background in teaching spans over 15 years with 14 of those years including online teaching.  She presently teaches full-time at SUNY Polytechnic where she is continuously using and improving the online content for all her courses.  Previously, Ms. Dischiavo taught online at Mohawk Valley Community College for over ten years.

She explains, “My experience in teaching online began 14 years ago.  I had the privilege of working with very forward-thinking online technology specialists who introduced me to online teaching.  I am eternally grateful to them as they began my journey into a teaching forum that has been exciting and rewarding.”

“At SUNY POLY I teach Anatomy and Physiology with an online lecture and online lab supplement.  In this course, I have added a plethora of online content including online lectures, online quizzes and additional online supplements.  The additional supplements for this course include a anatomical workbook and full lab pictorial review.  Furthermore, I posted all my lectures on Youtube so the students can review the courses even after they have finished my course.  I also teach Masters level Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners at SUNY POLY. This course is entirely online, with online lectures, interactive case studies, and online proctored exams.”

“As an adjunct at Mohawk Valley Community College, I developed their first online Nutrition and Dietetics course, growing enrollment from one course a year to 5 courses a year.  I taught this course for over ten years.”

“Online teaching has been a wonderful way for me to express my ideas and thoughts to students.  Over the past 14 years of teaching online I have learned how to teach on so many levels beyond the regular brick and mortar classroom.   These opportunities offer students the chance to learn at their own pace and convenience.  Beyond the flexibility, it allows students to review materials as often as they like.  Students are able to take the teaching home with them on all learning levels, offering them more opportunities to be successful. I am so grateful to have the opportunity and honor to teach so many students in the world of the internet.”