In my classroom, I use a variety of teaching techniques in an attempt to address the needs of multiple learning styles and preferences. I am a proponent of student-centered learning, preferring active learning strategies that put the focus on the students to instructor-centered strategies that make me the “sage on the stage.” In fact, I am well-known on our campus for providing professional development workshops that focus on such teaching strategies for our faculty. In-class strategies I swear by include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Writing-to-learn activities
- Small group discussion
- Case Studies
- Scenarios
- Think-pair-share
- Brainstorming
- Debate
- Problem-based Learning
I am a firm believer in collaborative learning, and students in my classroom are more often found working together in small groups than listening to me lecture. My composition classes are often dominated by “writing workshops,” in which students are actively engaged in the writing process. In pairs or small groups, my students are often working through problems together. I strive to create active, participatory learning experiences in ever class meeting.
I believe that to help our students be successful, we have to teach them the value of getting actively involved in their own learning, using campus resources, creating and maintaining mutually supportive relationships, and learning and growing as individuals through personal reflection and gaining self-awareness. Particularly in my student success and developmental courses, I design my classroom activities and assignments to show (rather than just tell) my students that these are the keys to success in college.
This is also posted online on my website here.
Wider than the Sky 