FOCUS on Engaging Classrooms An update on the QEP And Active Learning Strategies Dr. Anne Case Hanks and Ms. Mallory Benedetto

Diagnostic Questions Embedded on Spring and Summer 2019 Course Final Exams Pilot 4 different types of active learning strategies in Summer 2019 Courses Annual Report Produced and Published QEP Graduate Assistants Update on the QEP

Baseline Data Diagnostic Questions BIOL 1014 Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology I The largest number of students answered between 35% and 45% of the questions correctly.

Baseline Data Diagnostic Questions BIOL 1020 Principles of Biology The largest number of students answered around 40% of the questions correctly.

Baseline Data Final Grades BIOL 1014 Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology I 51% of students received an A, B, or C in BIOL 1014 for Spring 2019

Baseline Data Final Grades BIOL 1020 Principles of Biology 78% of students received an A, B, or C in BIOL 1020 for Spring 2019

Fall 2019 first administration of the Critical Thinking Assessment Test Fall 2019 two QEP GAs will begin Spring 2020 first FOCUS sessions implemented in BIOL 1020 Moving Forward

Listen to this!

Write down as many as you can Remember…

Principle of Interference People tend to remember what is at the beginning and the end but not very much of what is the middle. Active learning breaks up your class to have less “middle”! Principle of Interference

How to utilize your classroom to engage students Active Learning

“Students are not empty vessels.” ~ John Dewey 1916 Knowledge is constructed, not absorbed The one thing we can not do for our students in the classroom is…. LEARN!

A LEARNER-CENTERED CLASSROOM Allows students to : Break down their own misconceptions Relate material to things they already know Gauge their progress along the way Start to think about how they think Learn for the sake of learning Think Critically The one who does is the one who learns!

Where to start Start small Be prepared for mistakes Consult Peers and Resources

Active Learning Strategies Think-Pair-Share Clicker Questions Team Tests Muddiest Point Strip Sequence Case studies Jigsaw Learning activities Debate Concept Maps Active Learning Strategies

Not all Active Learning is…Learning

Strategies for Good Active Learning Ask. Don’t Tell. Guide students through activities Use the activity to assess the students’ understanding Ensure that activities are inclusive of all students Make expectations clear Align activities with assessments

Questions??