The TASSEL lab exists to support and promote scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) research within the Communication Sciences and Disorders department and across disciplines. The TASSEL lab values SoTL research that focuses on supporting the student experience through inclusive and equitable pedagogy. 

The TASSEL lab is a collaborative SoTL venture to study the teaching employed at the MGH IHP and develop new educational interventions. The lab uses mixed-methods and qualitative methodologies to learn about the student experience and impact of educational methodologies in a holistic fashion. It seeks to promote high-quality educational research through:

  • Community and student-engaged research partnerships
  • Qualitative studies of student experience
  • Fostering initiatives driven by clinical faculty and teaching partners
  • Student-driven educational research
  • Longitudinal, multi-site, and multi-cohort studies
  • Blending SoTL research with neurophysiology and child learning methodologies

The TASSEL lab is currently in search of research assistants for data collection, qualitative coding, and trimming sound files. 

Contact Laura with questions.

Current Research

The goal of this project is to evaluate the effects of an anti-oppressive practices curriculum on students’ clinical practice, report writing, and clinical communication.

The aim of this project is to assess the nature of the hidden curriculum across speech-language pathology graduate programs.

Wolford, L. L., Wolford, G. W., & Bolch, C. A. (2023). The Utility of Peer-to-Peer Practice for Teaching Speech-Language Pathology Students Transnasal Endoscopy. Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences and Disorders, 7(1), Article 9. Available at: https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/tlcsd/vol7/iss1/9 

Wolford, G.W., Wolford, L.L., Fissel Brannick, S., Anderson, E.M., & McLoud, K. (2022). “Getting back     into school mode”: Experiences of former speech-language pathology assistants in graduate school. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 7(5), 1449-1474. https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2022_PERSP-21-00288 

Wolford, G. W., Wolford, L. L., Fissel Brannick, S., Scott, M. & Smith, R. (2021). Shouldn’t you be collaborative by now?”: Supervisory needs, expectations, and satisfaction across the educational trajectory in speech-language pathology. The Clinical Supervisor, 40(2), 241-262. DOI: 10.1080/07325223.2020.1833268

Wolford, G.W., Fissel Brannick, S., Strother, S., & Wolford, L.L. (2021). Clinical education outcomes and research directions in speech-language pathology: A scoping review. Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences and Disorders, 5(2), Article 3. https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/tlcsd/vol5/iss2/3

Wolford, L.L., & Wolford, G.W. (2020). Comparing in vivo versus simulation training for transnasal endoscopy skills. Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences and Disorders, 4(3), Article 3. https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/tlcsd/vol4/iss3/3

Collaborators

  • Schea Fissel Brannick, PhD, CCC-SLP
  • George W. Wolford, PhD, MS CCC-SLP
  • Arianna LaCroix, PhD, CCC-SLP

Collaborators within the IHP:

Lab Team

The lab is directed by Laura Wolford.

abby has straight black hair and a white collared shirt

Instructor Communication Sciences and Disorders

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Instructor and Clinical Supervisor Communication Sciences and Disorders

Bridget Perry, PhD, CCC-SLP

Interim Chair, Communication Sciences and Disorders Associate Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders Program Director, Clinical Doctorate in Speech Language Pathology Program Director, Swallowing & Communication Collaborative

Jenn Mackey in black shirt

Director of Clinical Education Assistant Professor Communication Sciences and Disorders

Laura Wolford in red sweater

Assistant Professor Communication Sciences and Disorders Director, Teaching and Supporting Student Experience in Learning Lab (TASSEL)

Lesley Maxwell, MS, CCC-SLP

Director of MS- SLP Associate Chair Associate Professor Communication Sciences and Disorders

Lisa M. Moran, MS, CCC-SLP

Assistant Director of External Clinical Education Instructor Communication Sciences and Disorders

Mary Riotte, MS, CCC-SLP

Assistant Professor Communication Sciences and Disorders

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Assistant Professor Communication Sciences and Disorders

mirza has wavy dark hair and wears a purple and black patterned top

Assistant Professor, SLPD Communication Sciences and Disorders

Sarah A. Friel, MA, CCC-SLP

Assistant Professor Communication Sciences and Disorders