1. Techniques for Enhancing Student Engagement and Learning in Lecture and Discussion-Based Classrooms
Harvard Chan Center for Case-Based Teaching and Learning
Digital Learning Team

5. Appropriate Teaching Modality
Types of Learning
Knowledge (facts, concepts, principles)
Lecture (online, on-site), PowerPoint presentation, readings
Techniques (applying formulas, procedures)
Problem sets, exercises (online, homework, lab)
Skills
(communication, teamwork, listening, critical thinking, problem-solving)
Small group projects and presentations, case-based discussion in small or large groups, blogs, peer review/feedback
Application of Theory
(ability to transfer knowledge learned in one context to another, different context)
Case-based discussion
Problem-based learning in small groups
Professional Identity and Leadership
(values, self-awareness, ongoing capacity for learning)
Small and large group projects and presentations
Field practice

6. Benefits of Lecture
Communicate up-to-date information/current research/ideas
Compile related information efficiently
Tailor information to the specific interests of the audience
Enhance students’ ability to read relevant text
Motivate further learning (If instructor is engaging)
Model scholarly behavior
Bland et al, “In Defense of the Lecture”, J Coll Sci Tch, Vol 37:2; 2007

7. Constraints on Lecture Approach
Passive learning does not promote long-term retention or transfer to new context
Student attention span drops off after first 10 – 18 minutes of a lecture
Psychological distance between instructor and student inhibits learning
Instructors talk faster (120 – 240 words/minute) than students can take notes or absorb material (20 words/minute); students learn more in low-density lectures
PowerPoint promotes even faster delivery

8. Suggestions to Improve Effectiveness of Lecture
Open a dialogue with students: Use clickers, have students write a one minute summary of major point so far, discuss a point with another student
Change pace/tenor/intensity/move around room
Smile/use humor/relax stance/look at your students
Slow down/address fewer concepts, less detailed information
Learn best practices in use of PowerPoint
Stop talking (two minute pauses every minutes), allow students to work in pairs to discuss/rework notes
Could show an instructional moves segment to illustrate the use of videos…two videos that might helpful are:
Providing Wait-Time for Students to Process and Gain Confidence
Waiting for student responses

10. Tips for Successful Discussion Management (case-based or not)
Educate students on their role at the very beginning of course, and reinforce throughout course
Learn students’ names and relevant background
Spend at least as much time planning how you are going to teach as on what you are going to teach

11. More Tips Choose topics or cases to discuss for which
there is no one best approach/answer, and
that illustrate a key concept/learning objective of the course
Actively manage the discussion to stay on point (use board strategically), facilitate, and LISTEN
Summarize key points, how they relate to learning objectives

12. Tools for Generating Discussion in Online Courses
Discussion boards
Prompts that encourage dialogue
Establish guidelines for discussions (word count limit, deadline to participant)
Weekly discussion student co-facilitators
Group/Project specific boards
Setting on discussions
Prior responses are not visible until student responds

13. Discussion Sample
Sample Prompt

14. Sample Student Response
Discussion Sample
Sample Student Response

15. Sample Faculty Re-direct
Discussion Sample
Sample Faculty Re-direct

16. Sample Student Response
Discussion Sample
Sample Student Response

17. Tools for Generating Discussion in Online Courses
Blog or online portfolio
Peer feedback (portfolio buddies) and course reflection
Project sharing and professional portfolio
Possible platforms (not supported by METS)
Pathbrite (pathbrite.com)
WordPress (wordpress.com)
Wix (wix.com)

18. Tools for Generating Discussion in Online Courses
Blog or online portfolio (not supported by METS)

19. Tools for Generating Discussion in Online Courses
Small group activities
Projects or specific activities on Canvas
Peer learning and feedback activities

20. Tools for Generating Discussion in Online Courses
Quizzes
Knowledge check (not graded)
Assigned assessments (graded)