Engage Students in Large Lecture Courses

1. Engage Students in Large Lecture Courses Brian Udermann, CATL

2. 1 Capture, recapture, capture, recapture, … • Start early in class to get their attention • Re-engage with gusto at least every 10 minutes • Build it into your lecture, notes, presentation

3. 2 Use demonstrations, activities, stories, real life examples • Really does keep their attention • Helps them learn and retain information • Don’t be afraid of making a fool of yourself to get a point across • Examples

4. 3 Use humor • Use videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg • Use student’s humor • Helps them enjoy class • Keeps them awake so they don’t miss the next concept

5. 4 Strive for practical application - make topic relevant to their lives • Current topics / research • Relate to other classes/their major • Makes the class much more interesting to the students • Examples

6. Get to know as many names as possible • Show up early and mingle • Hold small review sessions frequently • “Stalk” them when they hand in their tests • Ask names of students when they come to see you 5

7. Additional ideas • Utilize reviews often • Make expectations clear • Encourage some writing • Repeat student questions • Have a great first class (set the stage)

8. Additional ideas • Utilize guest speakers • Use power point effectively • Be enthusiastic about your topic • Share past evaluations with students • Collect student feedback during the class

9. In conclusion There is no “best way” to teach a large lecture. Depends on . . . • You • The class • The topic Show the students you care about them and that you are enthusiastic about the topic 

10. Any Questions