An instructor and Technovator staff working together in a Design Thinking workshop

Technovation—Enhancing student learning with innovative technologies

Technovation is about the merging of technology and innovation, and there has been no shortage of innovation this past year. The Technovator (UMass Boston’s Technology Innovation Incubator) has 15 virtual reality headsets—and numerous applications such as VR Expeditions 2.0, Visible Body Atlas, and FrameVR—that can be used to create immersive experiences appealing to all learners. “The Technovator provides faculty and staff with access to cutting-edge technologies they might not otherwise have the time or resources to explore,” explains David Martinez, a senior IT major who works in the space. “It’s a place where they can collaborate on projects, learn new tools, and develop innovative solutions to enhance their teaching. It also helps bridge the gap between theory and application, enabling staff to bring more interactive and immersive experiences into their classrooms.” 

While faculty, staff, and researchers often come to the Technovator to find out what technology might be available, they are not limited by what is already created. The students who work for the program are given free reign when it comes to exploration and creativity. This, in turn, helps them develop unique ways of integrating technology in the classroom. “Students that work for me are empowered to work on projects and take ownership. This gives them the opportunity to learn from one another and develop skills and projects that will help them acquire jobs when they leave the University,” says Zack Ronald, Manager of Innovative Education Technology. “We also understand what helps students as students are the ones working for me. This by extension allows the student perspective to transfer to the faculty in a way that works and is fundamentally sound.”  

Take the new Canvas help tool built by Mohammed Mustafa Ahmed, a computer science student who is part of the PACE program and has worked at the Technovator since early 2023. “Most faculty members don’t know where to find certain sections, so we designed a chatbot that will tell them everything about Canvas,” Ahmed says. Once he found an AI model that could answer all Canvas questions (called Gemini), Ahmed had to create a database to feed data into the chatbot, including links specific to UMass Boston. “We help to innovate technologies in a way that is going to make life for faculty and students easier,” Ahmed says.  

Another project is a BeaconFlex application designed to show two cameras and screen at the same time for remote students. This has been a challenge because Zoom is constantly updating, but the team hopes to have a working beta for January. Martinez also recently developed a web application for the Center for Clinical Education and Research, which focuses on enhancing the education experience of students in the university’s renowned nursing program. “This app allows instructors to play different cardiovascular sounds online as part of training students. We paired this web app with a custom Bluetooth-enabled stethoscope, allowing students to experience simulation exercises,” Martinez says.   

The overall ethos of the Technovator is important in its success, as students are encouraged to take big swings and to value all opinions. “The culture at the Technovator is one of openness, collaboration, and creativity,” Martinez notes. “We maintain this culture by encouraging everyone to share their ideas, regardless of experience or background. Whether it’s during workshops, casual brainstorming sessions, or project work, the focus is on making technology approachable and fun for everyone involved.” Adds Ronald, “we operate in a fail forward mentality—to try and fail and try again.”