Description

FLIP: Focus on Learning, Innovation and Pedagogy is a faculty discussion group, ideas lab and learning community focused on topics related to the theory and practice of teaching and learning. FLIP is open to faculty members, instructors, postdocs and graduate students who want to study, discuss and try out various evidence-based approaches to instruction, including student-centered learning, discipline-based education research, flipped classrooms, problem-based learning (PBL), case studies and other forms of active learning. Attendees should feel free to bring their lunch.

If you are interested in participating in FLIP or would like to be on the email list for further information, please send a message to Alan White at  arwhite@mailbox.sc.edu.

Themes for Spring 2016

Read and discuss Dunlosky et al (2013)—Effective Learning Techniques
This monograph discusses ten learning techniques in detail and offers recommendations about their relative utility. Techniques will be read and discussed grouped by their Utility Rating from the meta-analysis (Table 4; p 45).
Date	Topic	Facilitator
JAN 19	Low Utility: Summarization (p 14), Highlighting (p 18), Mnemonics (p 21), Imagery (p 24), Rereading (p 26)	Alan White
FEB 2	Summary and Implications for the Classroom
Using Metacognition in the Classroom
Date	Topic	Facilitator
FEB 16	Metacognition Overview and Literature Review	Jay Pou
MAR 1	Assessment of Metacognition Implementation	Linda Mihalik
MAR 15	Summary of Metacognition Classroom Modules	Alan White
Active Learning in Large Classrooms
Date	Topic	Facilitator
APR 5	Overview and Literature Review	Elina Levina
APR 19	Overview and Literature Review	Steve Rodney
MAY 3	Classroom Implementation	Alan White

About the Facilitator

Alan R. White is professor of Biological Sciences and associate dean for Undergraduate STEM Education for the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Carolina. Previously, he served as dean of Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences at East Carolina University, in Greenville, NC (2005–2013), and as dean of the College of Science and Mathematics at North Dakota State University in Fargo (2000–2005), where he also was chair of the Department of Botany (1997–2000).

Alan is a plant cell biologist, with a BS in Biology and a Ph.D. in Botany from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has held faculty positions at Marshall University, North Dakota State University, East Carolina University and the University of South Carolina. In addition to his research on plant cell wall structure and synthesis, he has been a key contributor in the development and testing of the Virtual Cell, a virtual environment for learning cell biology, and active in a variety of funded projects to improve science education practices.

This event is co-sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences and the Center for Teaching Excellence.