1. 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

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

3. 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.
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4. 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.

5. 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)

6. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

17. 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.
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18. Questions?
Jared R. Pike-