Strategies for Fostering Engagement in Large Classes

Strategies for Fostering Engagement in Large Classes(...well, we try.)

John Boyer ([email protected])Dept. of Geography

Virginia TechTwitter: @plaidavenger

Katie Pritchard ([email protected])Dept. of Geography

Virginia TechTwitter: @katiepritchard

Friday, February 6, 15

mailto:[email protected]





The technology tools now available to communicate and to deliver content are

AWESOME!!!

...but don’t be forced into compliance, nor lulled

into complacency....Friday, February 6, 15

A few general strategies we use

in super-large classes...


Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth





Strategy #2: Expand options





Strategy #2: Expand options

Strategy #3: Make a class into a community




-Communicate in their languages



-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactions



-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactionsIncreases student/student interactions



-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactionsIncreases student/student interactionsProvides instant and continuous feedback



These amazing (and free!) new communication tools to that bring people together...most of which your students

are already using!

Tools that help students interact with other

students



are already using!


students



are already using!


students


Professor Facebook/Twitter - class notices, quick polling, instant feedback & casual interaction

Tools that help connect the professor to the students


Professor Facebook/Twitter - class notices, quick polling, instant feedback & casual interaction

Tools that help connect the professor to the students


Tools that help connect the professor to the

students Ustream - Online office hours


Tools that help connect the professor to the

students

Creating a powerful PERCEPTION of availability

Ustream - Online office hours


Tools that help give students a voice during class, building a sense of

active involvement

Twitter - Class hashtag streamed live on-screen






Your students are already interacting in this space (and often interacting about YOU)



Your students are already on Twitter...







Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options


-Flexibility in lecture content availability accommodates different schedules




YOURS TOO!







-Flexibility in assignments/assessments accommodates different learning styles and testing strengths



A diversity of student assessment options

1080 points = A, 940 points = B, etc.

1)13 weekly quizzes x 30pts =400 (+10 for doing all 13)2)Midterm Exam =1253)Final Exam =1254)World Leaders Exam 50x2 =100 5)Films 5x20pts =100 (20/each up to 100 points max)6)Geographic Film Scripting =150 (50/each up to 150 points max)7)Non-class events paper =150 (25/each up to 150 point max)8)Atlas quizzes (11) =1109)Twitter Assignment =20010)World Leaders Bio =5011)Forum Commenting (13wks) =200 (15/each week)12) Storify New Curation =180 (15/each up to180 points max)13)International Interview =5014)Flash Quizzes =???15)Plaid Correspondents/Artists =???Total 2000+ ???

Our Flipped Syllabus Example:

-Allow max flex in assignments, so peeps can do things they are best at to ‘prove’ their knowledge (or at least demonstrate effort/work)


-Create assignments that utilize the on-line environments they already use...



-Create assignments that utilize the on-line environments they already use...



.....and harnesses their knowledge, creativity, and energies




Say what? What the heck is that?



Say what? What the heck is that?

Any environment where peeps--openly and willingly--work with other peeps



Sounds kind of sappy to me....



...I mean, they are coming to class to see me, the expert, not other students.



...I mean, they are coming to class to see me, the expert, not other students.

So why bother building a community?


THE TMI slide


-Keeps students engaged, interested, and active before/during/after classTHE TMI slide


-Keeps students engaged, interested, and active before/during/after classA college course is a holistic learning experience for an entire semester, not just during the

live class session...and you cannot be there personally all the other hours of the week

THE TMI slide




-Students who feel they are a part of a community help each other and inform each other much more

THE TMI slide




-Students who feel they are a part of a community help each other and inform each other much more-Perhaps cliche, but collaborative learning and working prepares students much more for ‘the real world’

THE TMI slide




-Students who feel they are a part of a community help each other and inform each other much more

Basically, because a community can increase student learning, learning opportunities, and may even make your job way easier than dealing with 3000 individual

students

-Perhaps cliche, but collaborative learning and working prepares students much more for ‘the real world’

THE TMI slide


Not sold yet? Then let’s make it more real:


A COMMUNITY can answer each other’s questions...3000 individuals will ask you the same question

3000 times




3000 times




3000 times




3000 times

And a community can take care of problems as well...

like our FACEBOOK SCANDAL



Community building is not all academically-oriented either...


On-line film night....


More important than the mundane: a COMMUNITY of learners can often form a more logical climbing team to knowledge than you can...


More important than the mundane: a COMMUNITY of learners can often form a more logical climbing team to knowledge than you can...



What the hell:Encourage them to cheat.

Work together.Share.


A COMMUNITY feels comfortable and even compelled to add to the class in a great diversity of ways

...a class of INDIVIDUALS does not


….and on a personal note: I want to create on-line courses that completely eliminate geographic barriers, but also destroy social

barriers in their entirety: students interacting with each other, and me, on equal footing, but also with politicians and scientists and

everyone else….by building community.


A COMMUNITY working together can achieve more than an INDIVIDUAL can on their own...and can make

the impossible possible with a collective voice.


A COMMUNITY working together can achieve more than an INDIVIDUAL can on their own...and can make

the impossible possible with a collective voice.

...GROUP SYNERGY evolves organically


Aung San Suu Kyi Noble Peace Prize Winner

and chairperson of the National League for

Democracy in Burma

Led to live Skype session with her

Initial interest from Burmese student

Skype shout out & social networking by students


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chairperson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chairperson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_League_for_Democracy




But there is just one catch....


But there is just one catch....

You can’t actually “make” a community.


AND speaking of ‘catches’....there are some things that need to be

recognized about this ed tech ‘revolution’......and teaching ‘good’ to ‘great’ large classes...


-It is a ton of work. Especially up front.

AND speaking of ‘catches’....there are some things that need to be

recognized about this ed tech ‘revolution’......and teaching ‘good’ to ‘great’ large classes...



AND speaking of ‘catches’....

-The more successful you are, the more time consuming it can become.

there are some things that need to be recognized about this ed tech ‘revolution’...

...and teaching ‘good’ to ‘great’ large classes...





-Administration and support have to pony up










-Administration and support have to encourage experimentation, and not condemn failure









-Harness the tools to serve you....don’t serve them.






-It will all change tomorrow.




-Harness the tools to serve you....don’t serve them.


But this stuff is awesome!Communicating knowledge,

communicating ideas, communicating curiosity,communicating passion....




Isn’t that what teaching is really all about?




Isn’t that what teaching is really all about?

And everything I’ve talked about is simply

a megaphone for amplifying your voice



Technologies in education are not just gimmicks: HARNESS THE TOOLS!


Students don’t have to be passive: HARNESS THEIR ENERGY!





You don’t have to do it alone: HARNESS USER KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS!



A strong community is a potent force: HARNESS THE POTENTIAL!





A strong community is a potent force: HARNESS THE POTENTIAL!



SO FORWARD........TO THE BIG CLASS FUTURE!





A COMMUNITY keeps up with each other after the class is over

...INDIVIDUALS in a class typically do not

Thus we are seeing creating a life-long community of learners that grows every

semester, and now includes alumni, family members and friends...


A COMMUNITY keeps up with each other after the class is over

...INDIVIDUALS in a class typically do not

Thus we are seeing creating a life-long community of learners that grows every

semester, and now includes alumni, family members and friends...

Creating life-long learners...isn’t that

what we teachers are all about?


Education

Strategies for Fostering Engagement in Large Classes