Ten years ago, USC Upstate launched its first Active Learning Institute and installed its first active learning classrooms with support from a Title III federal grant. Today, we have 11 state-of-the-art, flexible classrooms in 6 buildings and 100s of enrollments in active learning classes each year. The results of this 10-year effort are impressive. Over … Continue reading Active Learning Leads to Student Success
Group Work and Collaborative Learning
Collaborative learning is a well-established high-impact practice (HIPs). According to the Association of American Colleges and Universities, collaborative learning has two main goals: the first is to have students work together to solve problems or find solutions. And the second is for students to gain access to perspectives, experiences, and information they may have not … Continue reading Group Work and Collaborative Learning
That’s a Wrap! Using Exam Wrappers to Encourage Reflection
Image from "Five Ways to Boost Metacognition in the Classroom" by J. Spencer (2013) By Jennifer Bland Have you ever been curious about how much your students are studying for exams, what material they are studying, and how they are preparing for exams? Exam Wrappers are one way for you to gather this information from … Continue reading That’s a Wrap! Using Exam Wrappers to Encourage Reflection
Three Steps to Active Learning: Encounter, Engage, Reflect
Image from Top Hat's "How Active Learning Engages Students in The Virtual Classroom" By Jennifer Bland When teaching in online and hybrid courses, you may find it helpful to think through the framework of Encounter, Engage, and Reflect. How will your students encounter the information you are presenting? How will your students engage with the … Continue reading Three Steps to Active Learning: Encounter, Engage, Reflect