I find that controversial, job related issues work well, especially of I have students read a short article, reflect on it and then write from one perspective, either supporting or arguing against the main idea.
An active learning strategy that I use is to try and increase student comprehension by asking questions in a logical order and ask questions at various levels throughout discussions. To pose questions and give examples within the discussions or around assignment challenges actively promotes student engagement. I find that student-to-student engagement increases and students gain confidence in their ability to construct a respond to faculty.
Fonzette Smith-Leavell
I usually have the students have a "hands on" activity like filling out their own Private Health Record. They can see what is used in the record and what information is kept.
Doing is the primary means of teaching as I use problem-solving but on a different accord because I teach decision-making, in the field of Business and / or management, it is important that before we begin students understand the difference between the two methodologies. I provide many case studies and we discuss the important of the situation and how it relates to decision-making, ensuring that students discover the decision-statement and not the problem per se.
Michael
Lois,
This year it has been impossible for me to get my students to post anything. I have given up on the freshman.
Renee Shaffer
My institution provides a discussion board and encourages students to reflect on each other's posts. However, it is very difficult to get students beyond the "great post" sort of response. Positive critical feedback is not a concept they are familiar or comfortable with.
Hello:
I post welcome videos in my classroom to get the students acclimated to an online environment and provide them with the expectations for the classroom. I also provide them with personal hobbies, contact information, experience in the field and education background.
Yvette
Klaus,
Maybe you can try a video guest appearance or a TED talk.
Renee Shaffer
In a writing course I have students write a memo to their boss about a problem and solution they identify and propose.
Real work problems are well liked by the students because they can come up with many examples so it is real to them. Guest appearance is more difficule for me but it's worth trying.
Mamie,
Oh I like that idea. Certainly a good active learning strategy that I might borrow!
Renee Shaffer
An active learning strategy I presently use would be Displaying. Via video, I provide a brief lecture on tabbing textbook. The students are able to view me tabbing a book. With this reference, students should understand the process and steps involved much more. This is one way to ensure the students understand the assignment's instructions prior to grading.
M. Allen
Christi,
You won't believe how many times former students have come up to me and said "remember that video that you showed in class, well, I still look at it", etc.
Renee Shaffer
I think real-life situations are great. This way students can think about situations in their lives that may relate to the concepts being taught. Oftentimes students have a hard time understanding 'educational terms and concepts' that would not typically be discussed during their day to day interactions.
Dr. Christi Monk, DM
I like to use Youtube videos and then ask a follow-up question relative to the video. I like to get the students engaged in using other tools to help encourage learning. I have found that students are more responsive to learning concepts when they have the opportunity to watch a video. This gives them a moment to be able to reflect and it also allows them to review the video at their leisure and as often as they would like. They can also have access to the video once the course is over.
Dr. Christi Monk, DM
Lawrence,
Great. I love to use the Socratic technique though sometimes students complain that they "aren't being taught anything". Then I need to explain.....
Renee Shaffer
An active learning strategy I use in the discussion board is the Socrates Technique. The way it works is I respond positiviely to the student contributing in class and wanting to participate, then, I relay my own experiences in the field of technology, an experience from the "trenches" so to speak. Then, I ask them to reflect on my experience in a critical way and ask a follow up questions. This typically gets the whole class going in a new directions because they are eager to hear from instructors and what they have to say, and of course, want to be part of a solution. This has worked very well!
Melissa,
Great- the Toon doo is time constraining for me but it is great to use. I always like to use the KWL strategy as students often have never seen it.
Renee Shaffer
An active learning strategy I use is weekly reflection and journaling in asking them the KWL technique. I also ask them to reflect upon their overall course learning during our final week. I loved the Toon Doo suggestion and find it to be another fun active learning strategy to implement.
Stephen,
Oh, this is a great idea. It puts them on the spot but as we all know, you never really know your topic until you can teach it or explain to someone else.
Renee Shaffer
