Strategies for Building an Active Learning Classroom Baruch Center for Teaching and Learning May 4, 2016

Active Learning in the College Classroom “...any learning actively engaged in by students in a classroom other than listening passively to an instructor’s lecture” [or receiving information passively in another form] (Faust and Paulson, 1998).

Active learning strategies we’ll demonstrate: Think Pair Share Jigsaw Reading Clickers

When and where do your students ‘make sense’ of the knowledge? During lectures During problem solving/applying knowledge in a new context

Scenario 1: Students attend a class, listen to a lecture in which the professor introduces a core concept, and then problem solve at home via homework, a quiz, another low-stakes assignment etc. Students receive feedback from the instructor or from the platform. The next class is spent introducing the next core concept or building on the previous one. Is this an example of active learning or traditional? Active Traditional

Scenario 2: Students read a chapter, complete a low-stakes assignment, watch a video, complete a quiz embedded in that video, or complete a collective annotation project with other classmates before coming to class. The professor poses a set of problems for the students to solve together in class. While students work together in small groups, the professor walks around the room listening to students and recording misunderstandings, often asking questions that may guide students in the direction towards answers. Is this an example of active learning or traditional? Active Traditional

Which scenario describes your teaching? Neither

Why do you do what you do? Discuss with colleagues at your table – Why do they follow these practices in their classes? How do these relate to the question on ‘when students make sense of the knowledge’? Summarize two key takeaways from your discussion

Think, Pair, Share

Think | Pair | Share Using what you’ve learned or reviewed, spend a few minutes writing about the most recent or the best “active learning” technique that you already use in your classroom. Image description: A cartoon drawing of students thinking and sharing ideas with a partner and group.

Jigsaw Reading and Problem Solving

Jigsaw Reading You have an active learning tip that is DIFFERENT than everyone else’s at your table. Memorize your own tip, but don’t show it to anyone. Turn over your sheet and test yourself.

Choose a card. Read the student problem out loud to your group. Does your tip help to solve the problem? If it does, explain your tip to the group and how it might help. Image description: four cartoon speech bubbles

Review the steps from today’s activities: Think Pair Share Jigsaw Reading Clickers Could you use these in your class? Do you use other “active” strategies you can share?

Resources for active learning Activity ideas bit.ly/alhandout 2. Annotated bibliography bit.ly/alannotatedbib 3. One-on-one consultations kannan.mohan@baruch.cuny.edu 4. Presentation slides for THIS workshop bit.ly/alslides Resources for active learning

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