The Creative Classroom - PowerPoint Presentation

The Creative Classroom  New York City College of TechnologyWriting Across the Curriculum (WAC)March 21, 2019 Engaging Student Understanding through Active Learning Techniques

Workshop Goals/Outline2Discuss advantages of active learning using WAC principlesOffer and demonstrate strategies for creative classroom activities and writing assignments

Warm-Up Activity: GraffitiThink about the learning environment in your classroom. Free-write for 2 minutes describing your current teaching methods and how students respond. 2:001:591:58 1:57 1:56 1:55 1:54 1:53 1:52 1:51 1:50 1:49 1:48 1:47 1:46 1:45 1:44 1:43 1:42 1:41 1:40 1:39 1:38 1:37 1:36 1:35 1:34 1:33 1:32 1:31 1:30 1:29 1:28 1:27 1:26 1:25 1:24 1:23 1:22 1:21 1:20 1:19 1:18 1:17 1:16 1:15 1:14 1:13 1:12 1:11 1:10 1:09 1:08 1:07 1:06 1:05 1:04 1:03 1:02 1:01 1:00 0:59 0:58 0:57 0:56 0:55 0:54 0:53 0:52 0:51 0:50 0:49 0:48 0:47 0:46 0:45 0:44 0:43 0:42 0:41 0:40 0:39 0:38 0:37 0:36 0:35 0:34 0:33 0:32 0:31 0:30 0:29 0:28 0:27 0:26 0:25 0:24 0:23 0:22 0:21 0:20 0:19 0:18 0:17 0:16 0:15 0:14 0:13 0:12 0:11 0:10 0:09 0:08 0:07 0:06 0:05 0:04 0:03 0:02 0:01

Warm-Up Activity: Graffiti part deuxLook at what you have written and identify one or two major adjectives that describe the learning environment in your classroom. Write these adjectives on the board.

What is Active Learning?“Active learning is generally defined as any instructional method that engages students in the learning process. In short, active learning requires students to do meaningful learning activities and think about what they are doing... The core elements of active learning are student activity and engagement in the learning process.” (Prince 2004)

Why Use Active Learning?Focus time is limitedLearning and memory are improved by:Multiple methods of delivery / sensory inputRelevance and Emotional salienceInteraction Technology – expands the classroom

WAC and Active Learning: The ConnectionInformal writing is a pathway to developing critical thought When we write in our own voice the concepts become our own Active learning Writing

Group Work in the classroomActivities should: Promote debate Generate a written product  Be accomplishable in a specified time limit  Be directed toward course learning outcomes 

Group Work continuedWhen structuring an activity:  Create ground rulesyour role as mediator; assigning a spokesperson; respectful etc Form groups (self-selection or instructor-assigned) 5-6 students, smaller for group projects at home or peer review  Assign directives that are visible to all  Consider outcomes Ask students to persuade rather than summarize Leave enough time for full class discussion and critique

Different Types of Learning ActivitiesNo-Tech Classroom ActivitiesTech Classroom ActivitiesTech Out of Class Activities

I. No-Tech Classroom ActivitiesGraffitiDebates/RoleplayReal-World Problems"Conference" PanelsChalkboard Annotation Instant Feedback (Green, Red, Yellow post-its)Think-Pair-ShareSnowballGames (Bingo)Concept Maps

Activity: Chalkboard AnnotationChoose a quote from course readings and write or post it on the board. Have students respond to the quote in the space around it on the board.Then have students respond to each other’s responses.(Inspiration: Ann Berthoff’s dialectical notebooks)

II. Tech Classroom ActivitiesControversial Video/DiscussionAudio Recording/DiscussionVideo Demonstration (Khan Academy)Online Activities, Tutorials, LecturesDigital Instant Feedback (iClickers)Web-Based Activities (e.g. Desmos for math)Jeopardy

III. Tech Out of Class ActivitiesDigital Galleries or Timelines (Omeka)Student Blogs (OpenLab, Tumblr, WordPress)Communal Annotation of TextCommentPress (Future of the Book) Google DocSocial Media-Based Assignments (Twitter)Recording Podcast

Example: CommentPress

Strategies for Active LearningBe specific in your assignments. Provide written instructions. Be transparent about the function of the activity. How does it relate to course objectives?Be mindful of time and length of activity components.Provide models.Ensure students have necessary technology and can easily seek help.Make activities specific to your field/class – it’s your creative classroom.

Activity: Think-Pair-Share Think about a concept that your students have a difficult time grasping. Free-write for 2 minutes about ways that you might incorporate active learning techniques to teach that concept in the future. Pair up with the person next to you and share your ideas. 2:001:591:58 1:57 1:56 1:55 1:54 1:53 1:52 1:51 1:50 1:49 1:48 1:47 1:46 1:45 1:44 1:43 1:42 1:41 1:40 1:39 1:38 1:37 1:36 1:35 1:34 1:33 1:32 1:31 1:30 1:29 1:28 1:27 1:26 1:25 1:24 1:23 1:22 1:21 1:20 1:19 1:18 1:17 1:16 1:15 1:14 1:13 1:12 1:11 1:10 1:09 1:08 1:07 1:06 1:05 1:04 1:03 1:02 1:01 1:00 0:59 0:58 0:57 0:56 0:55 0:54 0:53 0:52 0:51 0:50 0:49 0:48 0:47 0:46 0:45 0:44 0:43 0:42 0:41 0:40 0:39 0:38 0:37 0:36 0:35 0:34 0:33 0:32 0:31 0:30 0:29 0:28 0:27 0:26 0:25 0:24 0:23 0:22 0:21 0:20 0:19 0:18 0:17 0:16 0:15 0:14 0:13 0:12 0:11 0:10 0:09 0:08 0:07 0:06 0:05 0:04 0:03 0:02 0:01 End

Questions?

ReferencesEmerson, T. L. N., & Taylor, B. A. (2004). Comparing student achievement across experimental and lecture-oriented sections of a principles of microeconomics course. Southern Economic Journal, 70(3), 672-93.  Gee, J. P. (2003). What video games have to teach us about learning and literacy. New York: Palgrave Macmillian.  Knight, J. K., & Wood, W. B. (2005). Teaching more by lecturing less. Cell Biology Education, 4, 298-310. Metros, S. E. (2008). The educator’s role in preparing visually literate learners. Theory into Practice, 47(2), 102-9. Moreno, R., & Mayer, R. (2007). Interactive multimodal learning environments. Educ Psychol Rev, 19, 309-26.  Prince, M. (2004). Does active learning work? A review of the research. Journal of Engineering Education, 93(3), 223-31.