March 23, 2015
La Roche Professor Develops Mobile App to Improve Classroom Experience
PITTSBURGH, March 23, 2015 – Jeff Ritter, Ph.D., department chair of communications, media and technology at La Roche University, has developed a new classroom educational tool for teachers, professors and administrators across all disciplines.
Dr. Ritter’s product, TeachBack, is an easy-to-use mobile application that allows educators to collect student feedback through the use of premade and custom-designed surveys. These polls gather student responses on the most vital criteria for students and teachers: instruction, engagement, the instructor and a combination of these areas. Instructors then have the ability to view results and average ratings in real-time, giving them the opportunity to improve lessons, lectures and the overall learning experience.
“Education has become so difficult today, mostly because it is so hard to get a student to feel engaged with the material in class – due to both the distractions available and a general resistance that many students have,” Dr. Ritter said. “TeachBack can make students feel like the teacher really wants to know what gets through to students and grabs their attention.”
Dr. Ritter released TeachBack under Relative Content, a company he founded to develop educational tools to empower teachers and students to achieve the best education possible. The application is available to download for free on the iTunes App store and Google Play Store. Available in English, Spanish and Chinese, the application works seamlessly across IOS and Android devices. Educators in any field can use the tool as long as their students have smartphones or iPads.
Originally from Trenton, N.J., Dr. Ritter has been teaching for more than 20 years and has served as chairman of the Communication, Media and Technology Department at La Roche since 1995. Dr. Ritter earned his Ph.D. in American Studies at St. Louis University, a Master of Arts in Popular Culture from Bowling Green State University and a bachelor’s degree in folklore from Hampshire College.
Please visit teachbackapp.com to learn more about the product and its features.
About La Roche University: A private liberal arts college in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers more than 50 undergraduate and five graduate degree programs, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, psychology, and health and medical sciences as well as interior design and graphic design. This residential college provides a vibrant campus community for more than 1,400 men and women enjoying 30-plus student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.
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