Open SUNY Online Teaching Ambassador 2020: Farmingdale – Michael Figuccio

Michael Figuccio, Ph.D. is a tenure-track assistant professor of Developmental Psychology at Farmingdale State College. Dr. Figuccio earned his PhD in Psychology from Boston University’s Brain, Behavior, and Cognition program. Dr. Figuccio teaches traditional face-to-face, hybrid, and online classes. Dr. Figuccio’s teaching interests include child development, atypical development, child cognitive development, and introductory psychology. Dr. Figuccio is passionate about online teaching and was recently awarded the inaugural 2019 Online Teaching Innovation Fellowship. 

Today, distance learning education is more important than ever. Many individuals face a variety of barriers to obtaining higher education. At Farmingdale State College, the vast majority of our students work. Many students are the first in their families to attend an institution of higher learning. Some have chronic health conditions that make attending class difficult, if not, nearly impossible. Online classes remove many of these obstacles. I find my students in my online classes highly focused and eager to learn. I incorporate high-impact practices, such as service-learning, in my distance learning courses to foster student engagement. Online and hybrid courses pose a viable option for students to complete their degrees and continue on their path to success.