Strategies for Fostering Engagement 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 Friday, February 6, 15
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Strategies for Fostering Engagement in Large Classes
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Strategies for Fostering Engagement in Large Classes(...well, we try.)
The technology tools now available to communicate and to deliver content are
AWESOME!!!
...but don’t be forced into compliance, nor lulled
into complacency....Friday, February 6, 15
A few general strategies we use
in super-large classes...
Friday, February 6, 15
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
A few general strategies we use
in super-large classes...
Friday, February 6, 15
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
Strategy #2: Expand options
A few general strategies we use
in super-large classes...
Friday, February 6, 15
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
Strategy #2: Expand options
Strategy #3: Make a class into a community
A few general strategies we use
in super-large classes...
Friday, February 6, 15
-Communicate in their languages
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
Friday, February 6, 15
-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactions
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
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-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactionsIncreases student/student interactions
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
Friday, February 6, 15
-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactionsIncreases student/student interactionsProvides instant and continuous feedback
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
Friday, February 6, 15
These amazing (and free!) new communication tools to that bring people together...most of which your students
are already using!
Tools that help students interact with other
students
Friday, February 6, 15
These amazing (and free!) new communication tools to that bring people together...most of which your students
are already using!
Tools that help students interact with other
students
Friday, February 6, 15
These amazing (and free!) new communication tools to that bring people together...most of which your students
are already using!
Tools that help students interact with other
students
Friday, February 6, 15
Professor Facebook/Twitter - class notices, quick polling, instant feedback & casual interaction
Tools that help connect the professor to the students
Friday, February 6, 15
Professor Facebook/Twitter - class notices, quick polling, instant feedback & casual interaction
Tools that help connect the professor to the students
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Tools that help connect the professor to the
students Ustream - Online office hours
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Tools that help connect the professor to the
students
Creating a powerful PERCEPTION of availability
Ustream - Online office hours
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Tools that help give students a voice during class, building a sense of
active involvement
Twitter - Class hashtag streamed live on-screen
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-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactionsIncreases student/student interactionsProvides instant and continuous feedback
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
Friday, February 6, 15
-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactionsIncreases student/student interactionsProvides instant and continuous feedback
Your students are already interacting in this space (and often interacting about YOU)
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
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Your students are already on Twitter...
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Your students are already on Twitter...
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Your students are already on Twitter...
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Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
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-Flexibility in lecture content availability accommodates different schedules
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
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-Flexibility in lecture content availability accommodates different schedules
YOURS TOO!
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
Friday, February 6, 15
-Flexibility in lecture content availability accommodates different schedules
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
Friday, February 6, 15
-Flexibility in lecture content availability accommodates different schedules
-Flexibility in assignments/assessments accommodates different learning styles and testing strengths
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
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A diversity of student assessment options
1080 points = A, 940 points = B, etc.
1)13 weekly quizzes x 30pts =400 (+10 for doing all 13)2)Midterm Exam =1253)Final Exam =1254)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) =1109)Twitter Assignment =20010)World Leaders Bio =5011)Forum Commenting (13wks) =200 (15/each week)12) Storify New Curation =180 (15/each up to180 points max)13)International Interview =5014)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)
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-Create assignments that utilize the on-line environments they already use...
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
Friday, February 6, 15
-Create assignments that utilize the on-line environments they already use...
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
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.....and harnesses their knowledge, creativity, and energies
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Strategy #3: Make a class into a community
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Say what? What the heck is that?
Strategy #3: Make a class into a community
Friday, February 6, 15
Say what? What the heck is that?
Any environment where peeps--openly and willingly--work with other peeps
Strategy #3: Make a class into a community
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Sounds kind of sappy to me....
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Sounds kind of sappy to me....
...I mean, they are coming to class to see me, the expert, not other students.
Friday, February 6, 15
Sounds kind of sappy to me....
...I mean, they are coming to class to see me, the expert, not other students.
So why bother building a community?
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THE TMI slide
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-Keeps students engaged, interested, and active before/during/after classTHE TMI slide
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-Keeps students engaged, interested, and active before/during/after classA 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
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-Keeps students engaged, interested, and active before/during/after classA 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
Friday, February 6, 15
-Keeps students engaged, interested, and active before/during/after classA 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
Friday, February 6, 15
-Keeps students engaged, interested, and active before/during/after classA 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
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Not sold yet? Then let’s make it more real:
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A COMMUNITY can answer each other’s questions...3000 individuals will ask you the same question
3000 times
Not sold yet? Then let’s make it more real:
Friday, February 6, 15
A COMMUNITY can answer each other’s questions...3000 individuals will ask you the same question
3000 times
Not sold yet? Then let’s make it more real:
Friday, February 6, 15
A COMMUNITY can answer each other’s questions...3000 individuals will ask you the same question
3000 times
Not sold yet? Then let’s make it more real:
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A COMMUNITY can answer 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:
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Community building is not all academically-oriented either...
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On-line film night....
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More important than the mundane: a COMMUNITY of learners can often form a more logical climbing team to knowledge than you can...
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More important than the mundane: a COMMUNITY of learners can often form a more logical climbing team to knowledge than you can...
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What the hell:Encourage them to cheat.
Work together.Share.
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A COMMUNITY feels comfortable and even compelled to add to the class in a great diversity of ways
...a class of INDIVIDUALS does not
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….and on a personal 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.
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A COMMUNITY working together can achieve more than an INDIVIDUAL can on their own...and can make
the impossible possible with a collective voice.
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A COMMUNITY working together can achieve more than an INDIVIDUAL can on their own...and can make