I am teaching a Clinical Laboratory Program. I have been teaching lab science Programs with both Lecture and Active Learning Methods for more than 40 years. I am using the Active Learning method more in the Clinical Lab Sessions. Now I am thinking to use the Active Learning method(Group Study) in our Case Studies, Critical Thinking Problems and Web Activity Assignments.
I believe when I teach Constitutional Law next time, I will definitely be finding ways to make my students more active learners. I always try to involve them but this lesson has given me a push to try and come up with more. For example, when talking about the Bill of Rights and other Amendments, I can ask them what is the 21st Amendment and get them to tell me what it is and how it has affected the lives. I will also try to get them to discuss things more and possibly have debates about hot button issues.
Hi Jeanne,
Wow, this is a lot to do in a short period of time. It sounds like you have a good game plan, but would like to improve it even more. I teach at a face-paced school as well, and time is of the essence. I have condensed notes from each chapter that I share with my students, and I lecture from those notes capturing all of the important points from each chapter. Sometimes I lecture on 2 chapters within 1 hour. I make sure to emphasize those points on the test, and I keep it moving from that point.
Patricia
I teach Pharmacology and we need to cover 32 chapters in 45 hours. I was mainly lecturing but last Session I started using what I call brain storming or brain mapping using an interactive power point slide.
I bring up the main topics of classifications, subclassifications, uses, side effects, actions, and other serious concerns. The students have already done some guided reading notes on the assigned chapters. I then ask them to provide the data for these topics and bring up the information on the slide once the class has brought it up in the discussion.
If they are skirting around a concept or concern I will give them hints. This is still a work in progress but I am getting good feedback from most of the students so far and suggestions to make it better.
Hi Erica,
Great idea to get your students involved. Students enjoy and really like whenever active learning is taking place. Students tend to really pick up various concepts whenever they can acutally do something in the lesson.
Patricia
I teach writing, and I usually give a PowerPoint lecture to teach the five-paragraph essay. I would like to implement active learning into this lesson by doing small-group brainstorming on a given topic, and then putting all the ideas on the board. From there, as a class, we can select ideas to incorporate into a five-paragraph outline. I think this would help the students to practice the writing process actively before turning them loose to craft their own writing.
Hi Pam,
What a creative way to make such a sad topic interersting and fun. Visuals are always enjoyed and received well from students.
Patricia
I am currently instructing a course in obstetrical ultrasound, and we are now discussing fetal anomalies. This tends to be a very depressing topic to learn, so to lighten the mood as we learn, I came up with an activity called "Conditionary" which is similar to the game Pictionary. On the front classroom whiteboard, each student attempts to draw a baby with a specific condition, using the associated features that we learned about, and the rest of the students try to guess what the condition is. The students seem to greatly enjoy this learning activity. It is fun, entertaining, active and educational all at the same time.
Hi Irica,
Students are really involved when active learning is taking place. I really like how you make sure that students are learning and retaining information by having students show what they know.
Patricia
During lecture, I could write objectives,examples and questions on the board for discussion after and at mid-point of the lecture. I then have students demonstrate and go to the board in teams of two to insure that students are retaining the material.
Hi Mona,
Students tend to really enjoy agood visual PowerPoint presentations. You also are well prepared to lecture by utilizing a structured outline. Great use of active learning is involved with the wine tasting and the sensory experience. Students need a variety to keep learning interesting.
Patricia
Hi Robert,
Group assigments are great! They work beautifully; you will be surprise as to how informative and creative your students are. As you mentioned, just make sure your students get everything that they need from this approach about the herb. As the instructor, make sure to clarify things if there is a need.
Patricia
Hi Oscar,
Try utilizing the technique for the physiology part. Students enjoy the method, and they really learn the material.
Patricia
That is a great activity idea. I teach A&P and use power point for lecture to introduce images of anatomy and have them identify organs, but the physiology is challanging to present in an active learning method. I will attempt to use your idea with the functions of the organs of each system. Thanks.
I teach an Introduction to Wine Course. In the course I lecture heavily with the support of powerpoint presentations which provide visual aid (photos of grapes, terrior, foods to pair...) and a structured outline of what is being discussed. We also have a tasting portion of the class where we analyze and discuss what is in the glass. To implement active learning, I will attempt to bring "the sensory experience" of the wine into the lectures. This will help break up the monotony of the traditional delivery and also give the students--who are in a culinary program--an opportunity to learn through all their senses at once, thus requiring a load of activity.
As a Culinary Arts Instructor i usually give a "herb-identification" lecture; but now after some thought, I will split the class into small groups give each a written description of the herbs, and have them "identify" them through group discussion. We will then compare and adjust notes so as to have everybody on the same "page".
Some methods I use to keep students active during lecture, are to pass out note cards with key words and have students look them up and read them out loud.
Hi Jennifer,
Great ideas! You can also use the approach to have 2 or 3 students to each group teach a chapter and come up with creative ways to get the lesson across. It is amazing the creativity and talent some students have.
Patricia
I am teaching a new class called "English Foundations" that is essentially a grammar course. The only textbook is a workbook with exercise after exercise of grammar rules. I have been basically teaching the course from a lecture approach, but am now thinking of ways I can use active learning. I think I will use group work to help the students learn the grammar rules. This will aid in discussion and help those struggling students. I think it will also help with active learning for those ELL students who need practice with real conversations to apply the grammar rules. I might also incorporate games to add an element of enjoyment to the otherwise dry material.
In Polysomnography, it is a science that is defined,it is also perception based so how each person perceives the information is important with each student. Allow them to discuss how they see things is important for their growth and sleep technicians.
