Teaching Large Classes: Active Learning in Lectures

Workshop Description:

Studies clearly show that in ‘traditional’ lectures, students attention declines rapidly after 15 minutes. Thus, while students retain 70% of the first ten minutes of a lecture, they only retain 20% of the last ten minutes. ‘Active Learning’ aims to involve students in the learning process, so that they are not simply passive (and inattentive) recipients of knowledge. Active Learning strategies can be as simple as asking students to vote on the answer to a question and they can have marked impact upon students’ attention and retention.

This workshop will introduce you to the theory behind Active Learning, model a range of Active Learning strategies, and give you some practical tips and techniques to help you develop appropriate Active Learning activities for your lectures.

Intended Outcomes:

By the end of this workshop you will:

• Understand of the theories behind Active Learning
• Be aware of the benefits of Active Learning
• Be familiar with a range of Active Learning techniques
• Be equipped to develop and implement Active Learning strategies appropriate to your teaching.

Key Activities:

• Group and paired discussion
• Use of Problem Based Learning
• Brainstorming of Active Learning strategies
• Video clips

Duration:

3 hours

Date and Time:

• Friday 20 March 2009, 9.30am - 12.30pm
• Friday 10 July 2009, 9.30am - 12.30pm

Facilitator:

Stacey Fox, Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (CATL), UWA

Venue:

Seminar Room 1, Love House, 28 Broadway, Crawley