Getting the Most Out of Teaching: Engaging Students in the Classroom

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Getting the Most Out of Teaching Engaging
Students in the Classroom
J. Lynn Zimmerman Vice Provost for Academic
Initiatives and Professor of Biology UMBC
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Interactive Learning includes

• Discussion

• Dialogue

• Collaboration

• Cooperation

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Interactive Learning includes

• Discussion
• Dialogue
• Collaboration
• Cooperation
• Speaking and Listening!

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Large Lecture Halls vs. Small Classrooms

• Barriers to interaction?

• Anonymity vs. identity

• Group vs. individual responsibility

• Expectation of lecture vs. discussion

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Creating an interactive classroom
Allow it
Be receptive to spontaneous questions, provide
positive responses, encourage other views, etc.
Promote it
Assign group activities/projects, pose discussion
questions, encourage study groups
Reward it!
Grade group efforts, participation points,
provide positive feedback...
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Challenges of interactive teaching and learning
Discussion takes time what about content?
Some students dominate discussion, others may not
contribute much
Discussion can take class away from main topic
Grading of group efforts can be difficult
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Rewards of interactive teaching and learning
More discussion requires more thinking
More thinking reinforces concepts
Stronger foundation allows greater creativity and
broader application of knowledge
More engagement results in greater perception of
learning (and retention of information?)
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more rewards of interactive teaching and learning
Students discover new interests and new
strengths
Students learn how to teach themselves and others
Students become life-long learners
Teaching engaged students is more fun!
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Some specific examples...
In large lecture classes

• Begin each class with questions/answers

• Learn students names

• Call students by name and keep track of
  responses (participation points?)

• Encourage e-mail questions and bring to class
  for answer/discussion

• Create small group discussion opportunities

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More specific examples...
In smaller class settings

• Create groups to read papers and present

• Include peer review of all writing assignments

• Work on a class project (book of essays, class
  debate, presentation to other students or
  schools)

• Attend seminars and discuss in class, encourage
  interaction with speaker

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Course development suggestions

• Define goals and create activities that support
  those goals

• Be aware of your audience

• Make material relevant

• Try new activities - a play, a song, a debate.

• Be flexible and enjoy the creativity!

Put students first - the rest will follow!