Week 6

Week 6 was focused on how to use technology and other easy-to-use tools to motivate and engage students, especially when classes are large. 

During Week 6 I was asked to read some material on engaging and motivating students especially using technology and other easy-to-use tools.

We should all agree that to motivate students, especially when classes are large, is a challenging problem.

I have read three articles;

1. “Teaching Large Classes-Enhancing Learning by Engaging Students” by Rick Finnan and Donna Shaw at

http://tep.uoregon.edu/resources/largeclasses/usingtechnology.html

 2. “Beating the numbers game: Effective Teaching in Large Classes” by Richard M. Felder

3. “Destroying the Teacher: the need for Learner centered Teaching” by Alan C. McLean

I would like to highlight some of the brilliant ideas:

 1.                 Give students the opportunity to read one another’s ideas using a blog

http://tep.uoregon.edu/technology/engagement/inclassdisc.html

http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-with-technology-articles/using-a-blog-to-enhance-student-participation/

 2.                 use Twitter to facilitate classroom discussions

http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-teaching-strategies/using-twitter-to-facilitate-classroom-discussions/

 3.                 make lectures more interactive by including think-pair-share, demonstrations, role playing

http://serc.carleton.edu/sp/library/interactive//index.html

I have also learned a new term “flipped classroom”. They say that a model of flipped classroom is already making a difference to students. If you want to know more follow the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQWvc6qhTds&feature=youtu.be

I was also given a task to create an interactive Power Point document including 1-3 interactive elements. These may include a ConcepTest, QuickWrite, hyperlinks/jumps to other sections of the PPT show based on student responses, blank slides to shift attention, etc. I created a power point presentation on Coca-Cola Company. I have a course “Corporate Culture” and I am planning to use this video in the course. I think it will be interesting for students to learn the history of this company. Also it would be nice to ask the students to make interactive presentations on any company they want.

 I added a hyper link, video links.