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Strategies for fostering engagement in large classes
The document discusses strategies for fostering engagement in large classes. It recommends increasing bandwidth through communication tools that students already use like Twitter and Facebook to increase interactions. It also recommends expanding options through flexible content delivery and assignments to accommodate different schedules and learning styles. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of building a sense of community where students collaborate with and learn from each other through group work and online discussions.
Strategies for fostering engagement in large classes
- 1. Strategies for FosteringEngagement in Large Classes (...well, we try.) John Boyer ([email protected]) Dept. of Geography Virginia Tech Twitter: @plaidavenger Katie Pritchard ([email protected]) Dept. of Geography Virginia Tech Twitter: @katiepritchard
- 3. The technology toolsnow available to communicate and to deliver content are AWESOME!!! ...but don’t be forced into compliance, nor lulled into complacency....
- 4. A few general strategieswe use in super-large classes...
- 5. Strategy #1: Increasethe bandwidth A few general strategies we use in super-large classes...
- 6. Strategy #1: Increasethe bandwidth Strategy #2: Expand options A few general strategies we use in super-large classes...
- 7. Strategy #1: Increasethe bandwidth Strategy #2: Expand options Strategy #3: Make a class into a community A few general strategies we use in super-large classes...
- 8. -Communicate in theirlanguages Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
- 9. -Communicate in theirlanguages Increases teacher/student interactions Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
- 10. -Communicate in theirlanguages Increases teacher/student interactions Increases student/student interactions Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
- 11. -Communicate in theirlanguages Increases teacher/student interactions Increases student/student interactions Provides instant and continuous feedback Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
- 12. These amazing (andfree!) new communication tools to that bring people together...most of which your students are already using! Tools that help students interact with other students
- 13. These amazing (andfree!) new communication tools to that bring people together...most of which your students are already using! Tools that help students interact with other students
- 14. These amazing (andfree!) new communication tools to that bring people together...most of which your students are already using! Tools that help students interact with other students
- 15. Professor Facebook/Twitter -class notices, quick polling, instant feedback & casual interaction Tools that help connect the professor to the students
- 16. Professor Facebook/Twitter -class notices, quick polling, instant feedback & casual interaction Tools that help connect the professor to the students
- 17. Tools that helpconnect the professor to the students Ustream - Online office hours
- 18. Tools that helpconnect the professor to the students Creating a powerful PERCEPTION of availability Ustream - Online office hours
- 19. Tools that helpgive students a voice during class, building a sense of active involvement Twitter - Class hashtag streamed live on-screen
- 20. -Communicate in theirlanguages Increases teacher/student interactions Increases student/student interactions Provides instant and continuous feedback Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
- 21. -Communicate in theirlanguages Increases teacher/student interactions Increases student/student interactions Provides instant and continuous feedback Your students are already interacting in this space (and often interacting aboutYOU) Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
- 22. Your students arealready on Twitter...
- 23. Your students arealready on Twitter...
- 24. Your students arealready on Twitter...
- 26. Strategy #2: Usetechnology to expand options
- 27. -Flexibility in lecturecontent availability accommodates different schedules Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
- 28. -Flexibility in lecturecontent availability accommodates different schedules YOURS TOO! Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
- 29. -Flexibility in lecturecontent availability accommodates different schedules Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
- 30. -Flexibility in lecturecontent availability accommodates different schedules -Flexibility in assignments/assessments accommodates different learning styles and testing strengths Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
- 31. A diversity ofstudent assessment options 1080 points = A, 940 points = B, etc. 1)13 weekly quizzes x 30pts =400 (+10 for doing all 13) 2)Midterm Exam =125 3)Final Exam =125 4)World Leaders Exam 50x2 =100 5)Films 5x20pts =100 (20/each up to 100 points max) 6)Geographic Film Scripting =150 (50/each up to 150 points max) 7)Non-class events paper =150 (25/each up to 150 point max) 8)Atlas quizzes (11) =110 9)Twitter Assignment =200 10)World Leaders Bio =50 11)Forum Commenting (13wks) =200 (15/each week) 12) Storify New Curation =180 (15/each up to180 points max) 13)International Interview =50 14)Flash Quizzes =??? 15)Plaid Correspondents/Artists =??? Total 2000+ ??? Our Flipped Syllabus Example: -Allow max flex in assignments, so peeps can do things they are best at to ‘prove’ their knowledge (or at least demonstrate effort/work)
- 32. -Create assignments thatutilize the on-line environments they already use... Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
- 33. -Create assignments thatutilize the on-line environments they already use... Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
- 34. .....and harnesses theirknowledge, creativity, and energies
- 35. Strategy #3: Makea class into a community
- 36. Say what? Whatthe heck is that? Strategy #3: Make a class into a community
- 37. Say what? Whatthe heck is that? Any environment where peeps--openly and willingly--work with other peeps Strategy #3: Make a class into a community
- 38. Sounds kind ofsappy to me....
- 39. Sounds kind ofsappy to me.... ...I mean, they are coming to class to see me, the expert, not other students.
- 40. Sounds kind ofsappy to me.... ...I mean, they are coming to class to see me, the expert, not other students. So why bother building a community?
- 41.
- 42. -Keeps students engaged,interested, and active before/during/after class THE TMI slide
- 43. -Keeps students engaged,interested, and active before/during/after class A college course is a holistic learning experience for an entire semester, not just during the live class session...and you cannot be there personally all the other hours of the week THE TMI slide
- 44. -Keeps students engaged,interested, and active before/during/after class A college course is a holistic learning experience for an entire semester, not just during the live class session...and you cannot be there personally all the other hours of the week -Students who feel they are a part of a community help each other and inform each other much more THE TMI slide
- 45. -Keeps students engaged,interested, and active before/during/after class A college course is a holistic learning experience for an entire semester, not just during the live class session...and you cannot be there personally all the other hours of the week -Students who feel they are a part of a community help each other and inform each other much more -Perhaps cliche, but collaborative learning and working prepares students much more for ‘the real world’ THE TMI slide
- 46. -Keeps students engaged,interested, and active before/during/after class A college course is a holistic learning experience for an entire semester, not just during the live class session...and you cannot be there personally all the other hours of the week -Students who feel they are a part of a community help each other and inform each other much more Basically, because a community can increase student learning, learning opportunities, and may even make your job way easier than dealing with 3000 individual students -Perhaps cliche, but collaborative learning and working prepares students much more for ‘the real world’ THE TMI slide
- 47. Not sold yet?Then let’s make it more real:
- 48. A COMMUNITY cananswer each other’s questions ...3000 individuals will ask you the same question 3000 times Not sold yet? Then let’s make it more real:
- 49. A COMMUNITY cananswer each other’s questions ...3000 individuals will ask you the same question 3000 times Not sold yet? Then let’s make it more real:
- 50. A COMMUNITY cananswer each other’s questions ...3000 individuals will ask you the same question 3000 times Not sold yet? Then let’s make it more real:
- 51. A COMMUNITY cananswer each other’s questions ...3000 individuals will ask you the same question 3000 times And a community can take care of problems as well... like our FACEBOOK SCANDAL Not sold yet? Then let’s make it more real:
- 52. Community building isnot all academically-oriented either...
- 53.
- 54. More important thanthe mundane: a COMMUNITY of learners can often form a more logical climbing team to knowledge than you can...
- 55. More important thanthe mundane: a COMMUNITY of learners can often form a more logical climbing team to knowledge than you can...
- 57. What the hell: Encouragethem to cheat. Work together. Share.
- 58. A COMMUNITY feelscomfortable and even compelled to add to the class in a great diversity of ways ...a class of INDIVIDUALS does not
- 59. ….and on apersonal note: I want to create on-line courses that completely eliminate geographic barriers, but also destroy social barriers in their entirety: students interacting with each other, and me, on equal footing, but also with politicians and scientists and everyone else….by building community.
- 60. A COMMUNITY workingtogether can achieve more than an INDIVIDUAL can on their own...and can make the impossible possible with a collective voice.
- 61. A COMMUNITY workingtogether can achieve more than an INDIVIDUAL can on their own...and can make the impossible possible with a collective voice. ...GROUP SYNERGY evolves organically
- 62. Aung San SuuKyi Noble Peace Prize Winner and chairperson of the National League for Democracy in Burma Led to live Skype session with her Initial interest from Burmese student Skype shout out & social networking by students
- 63. But there isjust one catch....
- 64. But there isjust one catch.... You can’t actually “make” a community.
- 65. AND speaking of‘catches’.... there are some things that need to be recognized about this ed tech ‘revolution’... ...and teaching ‘good’ to ‘great’ large classes...
- 66. -It is aton of work. Especially up front. AND speaking of ‘catches’.... there are some things that need to be recognized about this ed tech ‘revolution’... ...and teaching ‘good’ to ‘great’ large classes...
- 67. -It is aton of work. Especially up front. AND speaking of ‘catches’.... -The more successful you are, the more time consuming it can become. there are some things that need to be recognized about this ed tech ‘revolution’... ...and teaching ‘good’ to ‘great’ large classes...
- 68. -It is aton of work. Especially up front. AND speaking of ‘catches’.... -The more successful you are, the more time consuming it can become. -Administration and support have to pony up there are some things that need to be recognized about this ed tech ‘revolution’... ...and teaching ‘good’ to ‘great’ large classes...
- 69. -It is aton of work. Especially up front. AND speaking of ‘catches’.... -The more successful you are, the more time consuming it can become. -Administration and support have to pony up there are some things that need to be recognized about this ed tech ‘revolution’... ...and teaching ‘good’ to ‘great’ large classes... -Administration and support have to encourage experimentation, and not condemn failure
- 70. -It is aton of work. Especially up front. AND speaking of ‘catches’.... -The more successful you are, the more time consuming it can become. -Administration and support have to pony up there are some things that need to be recognized about this ed tech ‘revolution’... ...and teaching ‘good’ to ‘great’ large classes... -Administration and support have to encourage experimentation, and not condemn failure -Harness the tools to serve you....don’t serve them.
- 71. -It is aton of work. Especially up front. AND speaking of ‘catches’.... -The more successful you are, the more time consuming it can become. -Administration and support have to pony up -It will all change tomorrow. there are some things that need to be recognized about this ed tech ‘revolution’... ...and teaching ‘good’ to ‘great’ large classes... -Administration and support have to encourage experimentation, and not condemn failure -Harness the tools to serve you....don’t serve them.
- 72. But this stuffis awesome! Communicating knowledge, communicating ideas, communicating curiosity, communicating passion....
- 73. But this stuffis awesome! Communicating knowledge, communicating ideas, communicating curiosity, communicating passion.... Isn’t that what teaching is really all about?
- 74. But this stuffis awesome! Communicating knowledge, communicating ideas, communicating curiosity, communicating passion.... Isn’t that what teaching is really all about? And everything I’ve talked about is simply a megaphone for amplifying your voice
- 76. Technologies in educationare not just gimmicks: HARNESS THE TOOLS!
- 77. Students don’t haveto be passive: HARNESS THEIR ENERGY! Technologies in education are not just gimmicks: HARNESS THE TOOLS!
- 78. Students don’t haveto be passive: HARNESS THEIR ENERGY! Technologies in education are not just gimmicks: HARNESS THE TOOLS! You don’t have to do it alone: HARNESS USER KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS!
- 79. Students don’t haveto be passive: HARNESS THEIR ENERGY! A strong community is a potent force: HARNESS THE POTENTIAL! Technologies in education are not just gimmicks: HARNESS THE TOOLS! You don’t have to do it alone: HARNESS USER KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS!
- 80. Students don’t haveto be passive: HARNESS THEIR ENERGY! A strong community is a potent force: HARNESS THE POTENTIAL! Technologies in education are not just gimmicks: HARNESS THE TOOLS! You don’t have to do it alone: HARNESS USER KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS! SO FORWARD.... ....TO THE BIG CLASS FUTURE!
- 84. A COMMUNITY keepsup with each other after the class is over ...INDIVIDUALS in a class typically do not Thus we are seeing creating a life-long community of learners that grows every semester, and now includes alumni, family members and friends...
- 85. A COMMUNITY keepsup with each other after the class is over ...INDIVIDUALS in a class typically do not Thus we are seeing creating a life-long community of learners that grows every semester, and now includes alumni, family members and friends... Creating life-long learners...isn’t that what we teachers are all about?