Active Learning: Add to Your Bag of Tricks

http://www.calstatela.edu/dept/chem/chem2/Active/

Some interesting things to note from the above link

1. Active learning supplements lecture; it doesn’t necessary replace lecture

2. Active learning just means getting students engaged in some way – getting them to practice what they’re learning, getting them to work together on a project, etc.

3. Activities 1-3 are Classroom Assessment Techniques, ways to find out if you’re students are “getting it” in an informal way

4. Activity 6 (Clarification Pause) is a good addition to any lecture; give students a chance to chew over what you’re teaching, and open the floor for questions periodically; think of the lecture as a dialog rather than as a monologue

5. I like Activities 12 and 13; we don’t need fancy technology to this – fingers and flashcards will do the trick

Anyway, there’s almost too many ideas (29 of them) to consider, and certainly too many to consider in one posting. I hope you’ll take time to look these over at your leisure.

Ancient Chinese Secret

"Tell me, I'll forget. Show me, I may remember. But involve me and I'll understand." -- Chinese Proverb

So what's wrong with a PowerPoint lecture for an entire class period? After all, we have all of this great technology in the classroom; shouldn't we use it? But is it "smart" to use "smart rooms" in this fashion? It almost seems like we paid $4000 per room for overhead projectors, which makes about as much sense as a solid gold toliet.

I know lectures, and even PowerPoints, have their proper place. But the next time you do one for an entire 85 minute period, ask yourself: "Are my students actively engaged?" How much of the lecture will they forget tomorrow (or as soon as they are tested)?

Be sure to check out the following link. Lots of good Active Learning techniques here for you to incorporate into your classes:

http://www.calstatela.edu/dept/chem/chem2/Active/