Teaching (Really) Large Classes (Very) Well...well I try.
John Boyer ([email protected])Dept. of Geography
Virginia TechTwitter: @plaidavenger
The technology tools now available to communicate and to deliver content are
AWESOME!!!
...but don’t be forced into compliance, nor lulled
into complacency....
A few general strategies we use
in super-large classes...
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
A few general strategies we use
in super-large classes...
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
Strategy #2: Expand options
A few general strategies we use
in super-large classes...
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
Strategy #2: Expand options
Strategy #3: Make a class into a community
A few general strategies we use
in super-large classes...
-Communicate in their languages
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactions
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactionsIncreases student/student interactions
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactionsIncreases student/student interactionsProvides instant and continuous feedback
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
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
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
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
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
-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactionsIncreases student/student interactionsProvides instant and continuous feedback
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactionsIncreases student/student interactionsProvides instant and continuous feedback
Your students are already interacting in this space (and often interacting about YOU)
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
-Communicate in their languagesIncreases teacher/student interactionsIncreases student/student interactionsProvides instant and continuous feedback
Your students are already interacting in this space (and often interacting about YOU)
Strategy #1: Increase the bandwidth
Your students are already on Twitter...
Your students are already on Twitter...
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
-Flexibility in lecture content availability accommodates different schedules
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
-Flexibility in lecture content availability accommodates different schedules
YOURS TOO!
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
-Flexibility in lecture content availability accommodates different schedules
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
-Flexibility in lecture content availability accommodates different schedules
-Flexibility in assignments/assessments accommodates different learning styles and testing strengths
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
1)13 weekly quizzes x 30pts=400 (+10 for doing all 13)2)Midterm Exam=1253)Final Exam=1254)World Leaders Exam 50x2 =100 (+10 for dressing up)5)Films 10x15pts=150 (15pts each up to 150)6)Non-class events paper=25/each7)Atlas quizzes (11)=1108)Twitter Assignment=2009)Forum Commenting (14wks) =21010)Geographic Film Review=25/each11)Flash Quizzes=???12)Random Attendance=???13)Plaid Correspondents/Artists=??? Total: 1500+ ???
1050 points = A950 points = B
etc.
Our Flipped Syllabus Example
Diversity of student assessment options...combination of automated and
‘manual’ systems
1)13 weekly quizzes x 30pts=400 (+10 for doing all 13)2)Midterm Exam=1253)Final Exam=1254)World Leaders Exam 50x2 =100 (+10 for dressing up)5)Films 10x15pts=150 (15pts each up to 150)6)Non-class events paper=25/each7)Atlas quizzes (11)=1108)Twitter Assignment=2009)Forum Commenting (14wks) =21010)Geographic Film Review=25/each11)Flash Quizzes=???12)Random Attendance=???13)Plaid Correspondents/Artists=??? Total: 1500+ ???
1050 points = A950 points = B
etc.
Our Flipped Syllabus Example
-Create assignments that utilize the on-line environments they already use...
Strategy #2: Use technology to expand options
.....and harnesses their knowledge, creativity, and energies
Strategy #3: Make a class into a community
Say what? What the heck is that?
Strategy #3: Make a class into a community
Say what? What the heck is that?
Any environment where peeps--openly and willingly--work with other peeps
Strategy #3: Make a class into a community
Sounds kind of sappy to me....
Sounds kind of sappy to me....
...I mean, they are coming to class to see me, the expert, not other students.
Sounds kind of sappy to me....
...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
-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
-Students who feel they are a part of a community help each other and inform each other much more
THE 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
-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
-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
-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
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
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
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
And a community can take care of problems as well...
like our FACEBOOK SCANDAL
Not sold yet? Then let’s make it more real:
Community building is not all academically-oriented either...
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...
A COMMUNITY feels comfortable and even compelled to add to the class in a great diversity of ways
...a class of INDIVIDUALS does not
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
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?
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...
-It is a ton of work. Especially up front.
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...
-It is a ton of work. Especially up front.
AND speaking of ‘catches’....
-The more successful you are, the more time consuming it can become.
-Administration and support have to pony up
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’....
-The more successful you are, the more time consuming it can become.
-Administration and support have to pony up
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 encourage experimentation, and not condemn failure
-It is a ton of work. Especially up front.
AND speaking of ‘catches’....
-The more successful you are, the more time consuming it can become.
-Administration and support have to pony up
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 encourage experimentation, and not condemn failure
-Harness the tools to serve you....don’t serve them.
-It is a ton of work. Especially up front.
AND speaking of ‘catches’....
-The more successful you are, the more time consuming it can become.
-Administration and support have to pony up
-It will all change tomorrow.
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 encourage experimentation, and not condemn failure
-Harness the tools to serve you....don’t serve them.
But this stuff is awesome!Communicating knowledge,
communicating ideas, communicating curiosity,communicating passion....
But this stuff is awesome!Communicating knowledge,
communicating ideas, communicating curiosity,communicating passion....
Isn’t that what teaching is really all about?
But this stuff is awesome!Communicating knowledge,
communicating ideas, communicating curiosity,communicating passion....
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!
Technologies in education are not just gimmicks: HARNESS THE TOOLS!
Students don’t have to be passive: HARNESS THEIR ENERGY!
Technologies in education are not just gimmicks: HARNESS THE TOOLS!
You don’t have to do it alone: HARNESS USER KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS!
Students don’t have to be passive: HARNESS THEIR ENERGY!
A strong community is a potent force: HARNESS THE POTENTIAL!
Technologies in education are not just gimmicks: HARNESS THE TOOLS!
You don’t have to do it alone: HARNESS USER KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS!
Students don’t have to be passive: HARNESS THEIR ENERGY!
A strong community is a potent force: HARNESS THE POTENTIAL!
Technologies in education are not just gimmicks: HARNESS THE TOOLS!
You don’t have to do it alone: HARNESS USER KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS!
SO GET BACK........TO THE FUTURE!