Teaching Techniques
Teaching Techniques (Sign-up | Descriptions | Download PDF)
The “Teaching Techniques” category of workshops concentrate on instructional strategies, reflective teaching practices and the learner. There are three sequences of workshops this year:
- Teaching Online
- Collaborative/Team-based Learning
- Active Learning Techniques
Each sequence consists of an introductory workshop, two workshops on implementing the technique in your classes, and a workshop on evaluating the technique. You can sign up for individual workshops or for an entire sequence. People who register for workshops ahead of time are guaranteed to receive a certificate of attendance. Attend an entire series for a special certificate.
Descriptions (Download PDF):
Active Learning Techniques
1. What is Active Learning
The term "Active Learning" covers a wide range of teaching techniques- punctuated lectures, collaborative learning, problem-based learning, inquiry, etc. We will start by exploring our own values as teachers, discuss a couple of scenarios that could be aided by various active learning techniques, and brainstorm ideas to assist in situations that you prose. References and sources for exploring Active Learning will be provided.
Marc Boots-Ebenfield
October 17, 2:30-3:30, Meier Hall 100C
2. Welcoming Wikipedia into the Classroom (Really!)
Wikipedia as an “active” learning technique? Absolutely! Rather than avoid wikipedia why not get your students to engage with it! In this workshop participants will learn how they might embrace wikipedia as a means to achieving both content and skills objectives while actively involving students in the production of knowledge. Following an overview of one successful wikipedia assignment in which students had to revise wikipedia entries participants will have the chance to discuss and sketch out how they might integrate wikipedia into their own courses. As interest and time allows a brief tutorial on editing wikipedia entries will be available.
Elizabeth Duclos-Orsello
Wednesday November 5, 3:00-4:15, Harrington Building 116
3. Teaching with your Mouth Shut
A workshop to promote student-centered teaching & includes an overview & discussion of Teaching with your Mouth Shut by Dr. Donald Finkel in which he explores a democratic approach to teaching. This approach suggests that teachers provide a set of circumstances for students to reflect upon & learn from as opposed to being given information in lecture form. Finkel's methodology will be explained to workshop participants who will then break into groups to brainstorm how they might utilize this approach in their own classes.
Mary Ann McGovern, Shelley Steenrod
Tuesday, November 18, 11:00-12:15 Central Campus 225
4. Pluses and Minuses of Portfolios
Use of portfolios has become increasingly common in a variety of higher education disciplines. Originally used in the arts, english, and humanities, portfolios are now used by the social sciences, as well as other fields. What are the benefits of portfolios for both the student and the professor? What are the drawbacks of them as an instructional tool? These questions, and recommendations, will be covered in this workshop.
Yvonne Vissing
Tuesday February 10, 11:00-12:15, Location:TBA
Teaching Online
1. QuickStart Guide to Online Teaching
Anyone can get started designing an online course wiith a basic understanding of best practices in online learning. Bring your syllabus and after a quick overview of the essentials of online course design participants will start to create their own online units. We focus on fully online courses. Basic knowledge of Blackboard (WebCT) helpful, but not necessary.
Marc Boots-Ebenfield
Monday, September 29, 3:30-4:30, Meier Hall 100C
2. 1 Potato, 2 Potatoes, 3 Potatoes, Four..Online Discussions How Many More?
Online discussions are the utmost challenge to online teaching. Dr. Shea will share her insights gained from online discussion experiences that ranged from pure frustration and exhaustion to the greatest "aha" moments in online teaching. These experiences resulted in the online discussions component moving from "rags to riches." Participants will have not only an opportunity to work with the online discussion tool in Blackboard, but also brainstorm and network about online discussions.
Sheila Shea
Thursday, November 13, 2:30-3:30, Harrington Building 116
3. Taking advantage of Online Possibilities
William Cornwell will discuss and give examples of how his course continues to evolve from a F2F course that was online to a truly online course. Topics include: use of discussion boards, integrating a variety of media, use of student groups & student moderation techniques.
William Cornwell
Monday, February 9, 2:30-3:30, Location:TBA
4. Evaluating Group Work
There is a wealth of evidence that cooperative learning, peer teaching, team-based learning and other forms of student-student interaction are effective at meeting content-based learning objectives and building skills essential for most vocations. Many of the qualities that make group work so effective are often ignored in the assessment of student work. We will examine several techniques for ensuring that assessment techniques support group dynamics and award individual achievement. These techniques will be applicable both online and F2F.
Marc Boots-Ebenfield
Monday, March 9, 11:00-12:15, Central Campus 225
Collaborative/Team-Based Learning
1. On the Use of Group Theory & Practice in Enhancing Classroom Teaching
Why do 2 classes with the same syllabus and same assignments respond entirely differently to the teaching? This introduction to group learning will provide participants a framework to understand the classroom as a group phenomenon and how to best use the properties of group dynamics to enhance student learning. Special focus will be on engagement and assessment of the "group-as-a-whole" and developing and enhancing "mutual aid" and collaborative learning within a classroom.
Mary Hobbins DeChillo
Thursday, October 16, 3:30-5:00, Meier Hall 106
2. Experience Team-Based Learning
Team based learning is an instructional strategy for the college/university classroom that may change forever your approach to teaching. Not to be confused with cooperative learning or small group activities, it is designed to support high performance learning based around social units or "teams". The initial set-up is crucial for a successful semester of team-based learning. Shelley Sweeney will take you through the essential elements of team-based learning and let you experience key steps as a student.
Shelley Sweeney
Monday, November 3, 11:00-12:15, Meier Hall 106
3. Conditions for Successful Online Collaboration
Chaos theory, systems and networks, and coupling structures – what do these examples of managing complexity have to do with online collaboration? Participate in a real-time demonstration of tight coupling, loose coupling, and uncoupling in online teams to find out. Learn how your role as instructor and its impact on group structure can have significant unintended consequences on group outcomes. You will walk away with a clearer picture of how to manage online teams. This session will be highly interactive.
Gina Vega
Wednesday, March 4, 3:30-4:45, Central Campus 225
4. Evaluating Group Work
There is a wealth of evidence that cooperative learning, peer teaching, team-based learning and other forms of student-student interaction are effective at meeting content-based learning objectives and building skills essential for most vocations. Many of the qualities that make group work so effective are often ignored in the assessment of student work. We will examine several techniques for ensuring that assessment techniques support group dynamics and award individual achievement. These techniques will be applicable both online and F2F.
Marc Boots-Ebenfield
Monday, March 9, 11:00-12:15, Central Campus 225