Engaging Large Classes Inside & Outside the “Classroom”

Faculty Fellows WorkshopDr. Deanna SellnowDr. Molly Reynolds

Challenges

1 Take a minute to jot down some of the challenges/concerns/fears you have about

a. Teaching large classes &b. Using technology in teaching & learning

2 Provide real world examples from your experiences if applicable.

So why do them (benefits)?

Large Classes Technology

GOAL: Personalize (i.e., “shrink”) the classroom feeling by warming the classroom climate.

Maxwell, J. C. (1998, 2007). The 21 irrefutable laws of leadership. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

How?• Before Class• During Class• Outside of Class• Using TAs

Preparation is Critical

1 Syllabus– Participation Points– Incentivize Readings &

Homework

2 The First Day (climate)– Names– Icebreakers– Expectations– Modeling interactive

classroom

3 Lesson Plans NOT Lecture Notes– Goal & rationale– Learning goals/outcomes

& performance criteria– Content AND Process

that rounds the learning cycle

– Formative assessment integrated questions

Watch out for Content Tyranny • Include only key points and

general themes– especially difficult material

• Provide examples and illustrations– From You– From Students

• Beware of “Readings Regurgitation”

• Focus on content application by analyzing issues or problems rather than on conveying factual information

During Class

• Be available (before & after)

• Pre-assessment (quizzes, polls, one-minute essays, readings reflections)

• Pairs/small groups/cooperative base groups (case studies, PBL, contests, role plays, demonstrations)

• Move around the room• Questions and wait time • Change pace of class every

20 minutes• “Pointing” with names

(groups, individuals)• Integrate technological

devices (Twitter, Clickers, Google)

• Formative assessment & reflection (question/murky pts box)

Reynolds “Dark Side” Twitter

Student Feedback

Socrativ

Socrative

• Socrative.com• APP:– Socrative Teacher– Socrative Student

• Room: jxDeZwhb

Outside of Class

Teacher• Annotate lesson plan• Review questions/murky pts

and integrate themes into the next class period

• Follow up synthesis & next steps (email, Blackboard)

• Prepare next lesson plan• Review student names

Students• Threaded discussions &

group work (Blackboard, Twitter, Facebook)

• Required office visits (in person, virtual)

• Application (real world) homework (required and/or bonus points)

Virtual Office Hours: AdobeConnect

• Connect.uky.edu• Connect.uky.edu/virtualofficehours

GTAs and UTAs

1 Pros/Cons?2 Best Practices3 Digital Natives as Tutors4 Transformative Learning

a. Teaching as challengingb. Teaching as rewardingc. Teaching as transformational

Questions? Comments?

Deanna.Sellnow@uky.eduMolly.Reynolds@uky.edu