Steve,
Yes, there are many tools & resources that we can find free of charge & get some great ideas.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I teach pharmacy, which is a is a lot of theory until they are able to use the skills in the field. One of the ways i keep the students from memorizing is to give multiple hands-on simulations of the field using the subject matter in a lab practice or research format so they have to make it their own. I have found when I do this test scores improve without as much direct study, and questions that come from the students become more relivent to the course.
Any other suggestions are welcome.
I look to involve the students as much as possible. I have to understand that with a swipe of a finger, a student may have access to the same knowledge (or even more) than I do about a topic, but knowledge alone doesn't mean comprehension. I love working with students to find the information themselves, and help them to apply that through real-life case studies and exercises. In addition, it is my job to find as many places that may hold kernels of knowledge that may be helpful to my students. Thus, I may scan the Wall Street Journal not just to learn something new myself, but also to find an article that could demonstrate application of something we discussed in class.
