Instructor Spotlight: Tibi Marin, San Joaquin Valley College

Carlota ‘Tibi’ Marin Shares Best Practices for Implementing Innovative Blended Learning Methods at SJVC

Founded in 1977, San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) is a private for-profit college with locations in California and an online division, offering certificates, associate of science degrees, and continuing education opportunities in the medical, dental, veterinary, criminal justice, and industrial trade fields.

About Tibi Marin, ‘Blended Learning Innovator of the Year’ 

Ms. Carlota Tibi Marin teaches chemistry, organic & biochemistry, and microbiology on-campus as well as blended and hybrid courses at San Joaquin Valley College. With nearly 30 students per section, she teaches prerequisite courses for nursing and dental hygiene programs.

Tibi was recently named Blended Learning Innovator of the Year, representing the category of Implementing Innovative Blended Learning Methods as part of the 2024 Golden Goggles awards program. Her use of different modalities, commitment to hands-on learning, and use of mental maps and AI showcase a unique ability to reach all students. Beyond that, her commitment to helping students on weekends, evenings, and being an ear for them exemplifies the true spirit of the Golden Goggles.

Professor Marin uses different modalities so she can reach and activate each student’s learning style. In addition to traditional materials, she provides exemplar videos on topics related to the content, scientific articles where they provide feedback, all with the aim to increase their science literacy. As one of her colleagues said: “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Carlota for the past five years in various capacities, and every time we connect, her passion shines through. She truly loves to inspire, guide, and engage with her students.”

Tips for Building an Effective Blended Learning Environment 

Tibi believes that connecting with students on the first day of class and empowering them to do their best is what makes students successful in her courses. She designs her courses in ways that help students practice and develop critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills. Her approach to blended learning is always with the student in mind, using a variety of methods to enhance learning and engage students inside and outside the classroom. 

Strategies for Increasing Engagement Inside the Classroom

• Find small ways to conduct demonstrations and show exemplar videos so they have different ways of learning complex concepts
• Engage them, “let them be kids” as they experiment hands-on
• Recap how at-home assignments connect to what is covered in class

Strategies for Increasing Engagement Outside the Classroom 

• Use online discussions to ask questions and encourage students to share thoughts and perspectives 
• Use written assignments to support the reflection process
• Assign research projects to help build critical thinking skills
• Incorporate kinesthetic activities and hands-on labs at home to enhance retention 

Key Resources to Supplement & Reinforce Learning ✔KWL Models where students write down what they Know about a topic, what they Want to know, and then later fill in what they Learned, allowing them to actively engage with the material and track their learning progress throughout a lesson or unit ✔Mental or Mind Maps as a visual representation so students understand how people visualize the world differently, and how their knowledge of a place comes from a variety of sources.  ✔YouTube videos and articles  ✔Handouts with diagrams to illustrate visual topics like the periodic table  ✔Hands-on labs coupled with virtual simulations to reinforce concepts, theory and practice ✔Final research projects so students can apply critical thinking skills

As with any subject, the key is to make personal and cultural connections so students have a strong frame of reference and clearer understanding. Use your teaching resources to draw connections to everyday activities where science is clearly taking place, such as when doing laundry, showering and bathing, using toothpaste or makeup, and food preparation. Not only does this clarify concepts but it makes the lesson more memorable for students.

As one of Professor Marin’s students shared, “I love these labs. They are very accessible and informative. I felt as though these experiments helped me better understand the concepts being taught in class. They’re very engaging.”

“Everyone learns differently and at a different pace, which is why I work to modify my courses. I want to reach everyone. I go in different directions for them to learn and empower them to look beyond the classroom with science articles, videos, and their own life experiences, because some of them are already working in the field, and they’re in this class to improve themselves. And when you see a student’s face as they engage in a different level of learning, with hands-on labs and demonstrations, you, as a teacher, know you’re doing a good job!” -Tibi Marin, Chemistry, San Joaquin Valley College

For more tips and best practices on implementing methods for blended learning, check out our Peer Learning webinar on demand.