Most germane to learning, research shows that students need to do more Reading, Writing, and Presenting (Schmoker 2011).

Research has demonstrated, for example, that if a faculty member allows students to consolidate their notes by pausing three times for two minutes each during a lecture, students will learn significantly more information (Ruhl, Hughes, and Schloss 1987). Other simple yet effective way to involve students during a lecture are to insert brief demonstrations or short, ungraded writing exercises followed by class discussion. Certain alternatives to the lecture format further increase students’ level of engagement: (1) the feedback lecture, which consists of two mini lectures separated by a small-group study session built around a study guide, and (2) the guided lecture, in which students listen to a 20- to 30-minute presentation without taking notes, followed by their writing for five minutes then spending the remainder of the class period in small groups clarifying and elaborating on the material (Bowell & Eison 1991).

If you’re interested in enhancing your teaching style to include active classroom techniques, LIT is here to help.  LIT has done the researched and has many examples and techniques to share with you.  In addition, LIT would love to partner with you in identifying the targeted engagement techniques that work best for your classes.

By partnering with LIT, we can come to your classes, observe and recommend methods that you like and feel comfortable with.