The Creative Classroom Jared R. pike New York City College of Technology Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) December 6, 2016 Engaging Student Understanding Through Active Learning Techniques

Workshop Goals/Outline Discuss advantages of active learning using WAC principles Offer and model strategies for creative classroom activities and writing assignments

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

Warm-Up: “Graffiti” Looking at what you have written, 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 limited. Multiple methods of content delivery and learning (Emerson and Taylor 2004, Metros 2008) Interactive (Knight and Wood 2005, Gee 2003) Technology – Expands the classroom

W.A.C. and Active learning: The connection Writing, particularly low-stakes writing, is a pathway to developing critical thought. We engage with ideas and concepts through writing in such a way that they become our own. Active learning allows students to embody and explore those concepts in different ways

Debate: Is Active learning Useful and Practical? Group 1: Active Learning Deniers- Develop three main arguments that support the traditional lecture based classroom over the idea of active learning. Group 2: Active Learning Supporters- Develop three main arguments that support active learning over traditional lecture based learning. Group 3: The Moderators- During the debate the other two groups will try to convince you to agree with their side. During strategy session, develop a rubric. What will it take for the groups to convince you? Strategy Session: 5 min. End

Debate: Is Active learning Useful and Practical? A representative from Groups 1 & 2 will each have 2 minutes to present their three main arguments to Group 3. Order to be determined by coin toss. After all six main arguments are presented, members of Group 3 will ask questions to both sides to get them to respond to arguments and accusations made by their opponent. Moderators may also ask questions to clarify the arguments given. At the end of the debate, Group 3 will determine which side of the argument wins. Debate: 15 min. End

Strategies for Active Learning Be specific in your assignment. 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.

Different types of Learning activities No-Tech Activities Games as Learning Activities Low- and High-Tech Activities

I. No-Tech Activities Brainstorming Graffiti Concept Maps Debates/ Roleplay Real-world Problems Instant Feedback Think-pair-share Fishbowl seminar Snowball

Have students develop a game to teach the concept II. Games Bingo Jeopardy Have students develop a game to teach the concept  

Controversial video/ Discussion Audio Recording/ Discussion Low-Tech Activities Controversial video/ Discussion Audio Recording/ Discussion Video Demonstration Online Activities, Tutorials, Lectures Digital Instant Feedback

Higher Tech Strategies Digital Galleries or timelines Student Blogs Communal Annotation of Text CommentPress (Future of the Book) Ukoment.com Social Media Based Assignments

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

Questions? Jared R. Pike- jpike@gradcenter.cuny.edu