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