Description

Active learning is a student-centered approach to teaching in which pre-planned activities are used to engage the student as an active participant in their own learning. Techniques such as “one-minute paper”, concept mapping, “gallery walk”, and numerous others have been shown to improve student learning and retention of the material in addition to enhancing the presentation format of a course. However, active learning strategies can be difficult for instructors to implement because they require specific planning, skill in guiding the learning activity, and an understanding of best practices for incorporating the activities as a worthwhile assessment.

In this workshop, participants will examine the three key student learning benchmarks integrated into active learning techniques, explore the planning system necessary to incorporate such activities into the class, including how to best design the activity to allow for assessment of learning. To illustrate the methodology, attendees will actively participate in several active learning techniques applicable to a wide range of classroom settings. Join us to learn helpful tips on what you can do, how to do it, and why active learning in the classroom is important to student learning.

About the Presenter

Michelle L. Hardee is the program manager for graduate student TA programs in the Center for Teaching Excellence. She received her Ph.D. in marine science from the University of South Carolina. Throughout her 19 year teaching career, Michelle has been actively involved in marine science education and teacher training. She taught throughout her graduate program, as an instructor at Coastal Carolina University and as an adjunct professor of geology at the College of Charleston, and is currently an instructor in the Marine Science Program at UofSC.