McCall named the College of Health Sciences’ first Provost Teaching Scholar

School of Nursing Clinical Professor Darci McCall is the first person from the College of Health Sciences to be recognized as a Boise State Provost's Teaching Scholar (BSPTS).

The BSPTS program honors instructors for their ongoing professional development in teaching. They must demonstrate exceptional teaching through their instructional design, instructional strategies and reflective practice. They must also complete three certificates through either the Center for Teaching and Learning or eCampus Center.

To anyone who knows McCall, the recognition is well-deserved and comes as no surprise.

She consistently receives positive feedback from students who emphasize her ability to engage and connect. Her investment in innovative teaching methods, student success and mutual professional growth do not go unnoticed.

"Darci McCall exemplifies our faculty mindset in the College of Health Sciences," Joelle Powers, dean of the College of Health Sciences, said. "Her dedication to ongoing professional development in how to deliver high quality courses is an example of how we put students at the core of our work in the college in order to develop high quality healthcare providers."

McCall enriches learning through technology

McCall regularly participates in workshops, completes online courses, attends conferences and engages in scholarship to develop her teaching. She strives to enrich her students' learning by introducing them to current evidence-based practices, and she integrates new technologies to keep her classes dynamic and relevant.

This is most recently seen in her development of an online simulation for students studying Critical Issues in Obstetrics. Initially, she developed an artificial intelligence chatbot to portray a patient experiencing postpartum depression so students could hold a simulated conversation with a patient. She also trained the chatbot on therapeutic communication so it could then analyze the student's use of therapeutic communication techniques and give them an opportunity to reflect on their skills.

This spring, McCall moved the simulation from a chatbot to a video-based AI simulation thanks to resources provided by Boise State's eCampus Impact Fellowship. She went on to develop two additional scenarios that allow students to practice conversations with patients' family members, as well as a guided debrief.

"Engaging in professional development is personally fulfilling, as it continually challenges me to grow and evolve, enhancing both my professional and personal satisfaction," McCall said. "I am committed to providing the highest quality education and authentic learning experiences to future nurses and those completing their baccalaureate degrees."

McCall teaches full-time in the School of Nursing's online bachelor's completion program and has been a full clinical professor since spring 2025. Thanks to her creativity and dedication, students experience online education that's more engaging and relevant than ever.

Share This

• Share on Facebook
• Share on X
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share through Email