Sensory connectors have always been a vehicle that I have used in my teaching, writing, and communication. As a pastor and teacher for over 40 years, I have always used physical items like a small safe, traffic light, or bicycle during the talk as a connecting point to illustrate a truth. The visual becomes a point of marrying truths with a visual concept leading to practical extended memory. Most simple memory systems link concepts with other connectors to enhance memory.

The style of the GCU online classroom is in the development of effective communication through the discipline of writing. Yet this can become one-dimensional in scope so I continue to explore introducing the sensory into each classroom. For example, my Cyber Café introduction is a visual and audio video expressed through four paintings from Thomas Cole called the "Cycle of Life." As I visually walk students through the four major stages of my life, they can see the important places of my journey and hear my voice as the narrator.

Sensory connectors are effective in explaining weekly assignments. I create videos that visually walk students through an assignment while I am verbally explaining the details. I will post videos in the discussion forum where I then ask the students to reply as confirmation that they have viewed the resource. Each tutorial is also stored in a Classroom Tutorial file within the Assignment file as a future resource. This file contains all the tutorials for access to the students at any time during the course. In many classes, I have made a classroom introduction video that visually and verbally walks the student through the entire classroom. I will point out the location of where important resources are located for their benefit. This introduction has been especially helpful in for first-time students in University Success.

I also introduce the visual into each classroom by using pictures. Most of my classroom announcements, DQ's, and posts have a picture associated with the communication. My personal contact information has my picture along with the Questions for Instructor forum. The personal pictures and the audio hearing of my voice bring a personal intimacy to each class that students appreciate. In using photos within the classroom, I am careful to avoid any copyrighted visual.

My writing practice uses the same concept of sensory communication. My posts, summaries and announcements use sensory connectors within the writing to communicate, explain, or simplify the thrust of a module. Sharing a story or connecting with a familiar item becomes a springboard for explaining complex principles. When coupled with a photo, the posts create interest and interaction.

If the proverb, "A picture is worth a thousand words" is true, then by using sensory connectors we are increasing the vocabulary and concept knowledge of our students.

Faculty Spotlight:

Jeff has served as an adjunct instructor at GCU since 2010 where he teaches undergraduate and graduate studies in spiritual formation, Christian worldview, and university success. He is an ordained and licensed minister with a personal journey filled with 32 years of people development including strategic outreach, discipleship, relational ministry and leadership training.

From planting a church to turning around struggling congregations, Jeff has traveled and addressed nationally and internationally over 2600 groups in 40 states and 16 countries around the world. Jeff has pastored in Virginia, Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio and ministered with three different parachurch ministries. In addition to teaching Jeff is also the Director of Being Me Ministries which focuses on providing resources for living the Godlife..

He holds a B.A. in Fine Art from the University of Toledo (Toledo, OH), Master of Divinity in Pastoral Studies from Liberty Theological Seminary (Lynchburg, VA) where he was the Theological Student of the Year, and a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Spiritual Formation from George Fox Evangelical Seminary in Portland.

Jeff also has invested in 500 couples over the last 30 years through marriage seminars, classes, retreats, and weddings. He has been married to Julie for 30 years with two children: Jeffry Jr. (29 years old) and Janelle (26 years old). They are the proud grandparents of two girls, Isabella and Sophia.

Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, Jeff enjoys sports, reading, writing, shopping with Julie, and graphic art. He lives with Julie in Sumner, Washington under the shadow of majestic Mount Rainier.