Second Chat Session

This summary is from the chat held during the evening of Thursday, November 9.

Strategies

• Use of lecture clickers to improve interaction in a large class setting
• Debates - student groups of 5 - 7; hot button issues
• Crossword puzzles (see link below) for review of previous weeks lecture material
• Short answer questions on cue cards given to "lecture dozers" to answer for the class
• Pre- and post-lecture activities
• Deliver material in small manageable chunks followed by a one-page activity with "real world" questions requiring application of theory. Use "think-pair-share" approach.
• Concept mapping
• Refer back to a student's answer when answering another question; gives them ownership of the material
• Fill-in-the-blank lecture guides
• Be creative with PowerPoint slides and break up the presentation
• Use a remote mouse for great mobility
• Case studies
• Jeopardy for review (see link below)
• Make PowerPoint dynamic, but not over the top with sounds, etc.
• Go over review questions in a lottery fashion (using dice and draw tickets) before lecture starts. Draw names to choose students who will answer; roll dice to pick the question that must be answered. Using very large dice makes it fun.
• Use foam balls to throw into class to generate responses to questions; aim for those who don't seem to be listening.
• Use wild, off the wall remarks (inoffensive) to re-engage students when they start to drift
• Throw out controversial ideas that will divide students and mediate the ensuing discussion

Issues

• Grades may increase participation, but does that necessarily contribute to engagement?
• Keeping students on task during sharing/group work.
• Students resist active learning strategies initially.
• Using active learning strategies may mean taking risks as a teacher.

Links

• Crossword Puzzle Games - thanks Diana!
• Jeopardy PowerPoint
• Also see links from the previous chat session

Summary of First Chat

This is a brief summary of the first chat session on Interactive Lectures which was held on the morning of Thursday, November 9. It includes strategies, issues, and links to resources that were brought forward during that session.

Strategies

• A few PowerPoint slides, then a case study, then discussion
• individual work on case study (1oo students)
• walk them through the case by asking them questions
• Think-pair-share (see link below)
• Case studies where each group must answer all the questions but at the end of the seminar each group presents only one question.
• Get learners involved in groups by indicate that ANY of them might be called on to report on the group's work
• Lecture preps: small activity based on readings or other preparation for lecture. Handed in, worth 1 mark each, not marked. Could be done before class or at the beginning. Helps track attendance.
• Fill-in-the-blank notes: Create PowePoint presentation then remove key pieces of information - a few words, the lables on a diagram, the answer to a problem. Create the notes handout from the version that has "holes" in it. Don't give them the slides after the lecture; if they don't come to class, they don't have the complete content.
• Be sure to make students accountable for what you've asked them to do. Don't give them an out (i.e. if they haven't done the reading, don't go over it ... act as though they have!) See link below re: student-centred instruction.
• Active reading assignments: provide an outline for taking notes as they read

Issues

• Getting students to buy into the value of group work
• Students often resist active learning strategies

Links

• Using Think-Pair-Share in the College Classroom
• Navigating the Bumpy Road to Student-Centered Instruction (aka Resistance Paper!)
• Example of "fill-in-the-blank" notes: PowerPoint slide [PPT] corresponding notes page [PDF]
• Active Learning: Creating Excitement in the Classroom

First Post

This is my first post in the Interactive Lectures blog for the course Active & Engaged Learning.