Jeopardy is a great one! I also like to use word scrambles at the end of the class as a way to review the material covered that day. Trivia questions about related topics are fun too.
The use of 2nd Life as a virtual environment for learning was very interesting and combining this with Problem Based Learning (PBL) seems to have a lot of potential for interesting and creative learning activities.
I learned that in studentâ€centered learning students become active and interactive learners. I also learned that active learning engages students with the course material through reading, writing, listening, talking and reflecting. My role is to help students draw conclusions from their own thinking and experiences. Primarily I will not provide information to students while seated in classrooms, this is not active learning. I will no longer feed my students information that they must repeat back to me, this is passive learning. I will promote student learning by planning activities for students that allow them to explore content and come to conclusions on their own. My guidance and facilitation is necessary, but students are responsible for their own learning.
I have learned that there is enough evidence to support that active learning results in better performance (as in test scores), retention, and most importantly, conceptual understanding. The following are the advantages to the students:
1. Students are more likely to access their own prior knowledge, which is a key to learning.
2. Students are more likely to find personally meaningful problem solutions or interpretations.
3. Students receive more frequent and more immediate feedback.
4. The need to produce, forces students to retrieve information from memory rather than simply recognizing a correct statement.
5. Students increase their selfâ€confidence and selfâ€reliance.
6. For most students, it is more motivating to be active than passive learner.
7. The tasks that students have done themselves or as part of a group are more highly valued.
8. Student conceptions of knowledge change are enriched, which in turn has implications for cognitive development.
9. Students who work together on active learning tasks learn to work with other people of different backgrounds and attitudes.
10. Students learn strategies for learning itself by observing others.
Two activities that caught my attention when going through this material were:
1. Reviewing a short video and discussing it
2. Having the students research a topic ahead of time, then come to the live chat and discuss
Both of these activities require the students to analyze and provide their thoughts on a topic.
Janis,
Love the train of your comments. Postural dysfunctions now and later.
Renee Shaffer
Stella, I do like the idea of having students generate test questions.
I have played Jeopardy like games around questions in the classroom and students like that.
Jan
Jay, I like the SME approach.
I like acting out thinking assignments including this as discussed, "...in 20 years, what possible postural dysfunctions/problems would these athletes have and why? What could they do to combat these dysfunctions? Students could be divided into teams online to think/pair/share their thoughts on the problem through a variety of communication tools such as a course group wiki, instant messaging or phone calls. They then could ultimately come back together in the virtual classroom to present their findings. Being able to state their knowledge and agreeing on a solution for the athletes are true signs of critical thinking. This scenario could be used in a synchronous as well as asynchronous learning environment. "
Jan
Jay,
Oh, I love those examples. Many students haven't ever been asked to critically think and don't know what it entails.
Renee Shaffer
One fun critical thinking assignments is having the students act as the expert on the subject matter where they have to respond to questions asked by their fellow peers. Another fun critical thinking assignment is having students demonstrate a situation in a role play scenario. Do you think there is a lack of emphasis in critical thinking directed at college students? If yes, why do you feel that way. If no, why should faculty still focus on critical thinking?
Jay Familant
Group based assignments and research assignments are two critical thinking assignments I have learned. I like the group based because all students can share their professional and personal experiences with each other as they all have varying backgrounds. Research helps the students understand the background\history of the topic being research and allows them to see how the research has ended up in its current state.
Shundra Mosby
Ask students to put the pieces of information
together.
Ask students to generate their own questions.
1) To ask students' questions that require them to perform research and think about their answer before responding.
2) To ask students' to provide research to substantiate their opinions rather than express hyperbole and unsound statements.
2 fun critical thinking assignments I learned are:
1) asking students questions and give them time to think about it for a few days before they give their responses
2) encourage them to find relationships between different pieces of information
This can be achieved in fun activities like jigsaw activities and peer and self reflection activities.
1) To ask students' questions that require them to perform research and think about their answer before responding.
2) To ask students' to provide research to substantiate their opinions rather than express hyperbole and unsound statements.
