Preparing the Environment for Active Learning:
examples from the large enrollment classroom.
Katie Winsett, PhD
Biology Department
kewinsett@usi.edu
“An important part of our job as teachers is
equipping as many of our students as possible
with high-level problem-solving and thinking skills,
including critical and creative thinking.
If there is a broad agreement about anything in
educational research, it’s that well-implemented
learner-centered instruction is much more
effective than traditional lecture-based instruction
at promoting those skills.”
Richard Felder, Chemical Engineering Education 45 (2011).
Thoughts from experience and the literature
Upfront preparation
The
syllabus
Blackboard
Detailed directions
Organized chaos
Introductions
Thoughts from experience and the literature
Upfront preparation
Organized chaos
Given
the right tools, students will talk about the content
Be very clear on how this works.
Consciously address the environment
Introductions
Thoughts from experience and the literature
Upfront preparation
Organized chaos
Introductions
They
don’t know each other
Consciously address this
Final thoughts
There will be resistance.
Things will not go as planned.
Students will learn.
Be idealistic about it; the literature supports your
effort.
Be prepared.
Remind yourself why you do it.
Reread
student reflective assignments
John Hunter: The World Peace Game
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