“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

5 Ways to…

“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

Engage Students in Large Lecture Courses

Brian Udermann, CATL

“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

Capture, recapture, capture, recapture, …

• Start early in class to get their attention• Re-engage with gusto at least every 10

minutes• Build it into your lecture, notes,

presentation

1

“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

Use demonstrations, activities, stories, real life examples

• Really does keep their attention • Helps them learn and retain information• Don’t be afraid of making a fool of

yourself to get a point across• Examples

2

“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

Use humor

• Use videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg

• Use student’s humor• Helps them enjoy class• Keeps them awake so they don’t miss the

next concept

3

“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

Strive for practical application - make topic relevant to their lives

• Current topics / research • Relate to other classes/their major• Makes the class much more interesting

to the students• Examples

4

“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

Get to know as many names as possible

• Show up early and mingle • Hold small review sessions frequently• “Stalk” them when they hand in their

tests• Ask names of students when they come

to see you

5

“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

Additional ideas • Utilize reviews often • Make expectations clear • Encourage some writing • Repeat student questions • Have a great first class (set the stage)

“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

Additional ideas • Utilize guest speakers• Use power point effectively • Be enthusiastic about your topic• Share past evaluations with students • Collect student feedback during the class

“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

In conclusion

There is no “best way” to teach a large lecture. Depends on . . . • You• The class• The topic

Show the students you care about them and that you are enthusiastic about the topic

“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

“Take Five: Strategies to Improve Teaching and Learning” - January 19, 2010Hosted by the UW-L Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning – website: http://www.uwlax.edu/catl

Any Questions