Re/Designing Courses

Examples of Questions Raised by UW Instructors:

"How do I make the transition from smaller to larger classes?"

"Are there active learning strategies we can incorporate into 500 person lectures?"

"How do I maintain active communication with students in larger classes?"

Suggested Resources that Provide Starting Points to Address These Questions:

Teaching Large Classes

• Actively Engaging Students in Large Classes - CIDR Teaching and Learning Bulletin, 12(3)
• Beating the Numbers Game: Effective Teaching in Large Classes - by Richard Felder
• Teaching Large Classes - A 15-minute video offering practical suggestions for facilitating learning in large classes

... more on Teaching Large Classes

Active Learning

• Active Learning with PowerPoint - including discussions of Active Lecturing, Active Learning Strategies, Effective Handouts, Games, and Formative Assessment
• Classroom Performance Systems - A series of short video clips by UW Austin Professor Dee Silverthorn on interactive teaching in large classes
• Strategies for energizing large classes: From small groups to learning communities - Volume 81 of New Directions for Teaching and Learning, with chapters on a variety of topics related to teaching large classes (Jossey-Bass, 2000).

... more on Active Learning

Class Participation and Discussion

• More and Better Class Participation - CIDR Teaching and Learning Bulletin, 4(1)
• Any Questions? Different types of questions that can be effectively asked in class, by Richard Felder
• Six Ways to Discourage Learning - An article written to help instructors "become aware of very common things ... which don't help the learning process, and avoid them!"

... more on Class Participation and Discussion

Course Design

• Consult on Course, Syllabus, or Assignment Design at CIDR
• Designing a Course - CIDR Teaching and Learning Bulletin, 2(1)
• Planning the Course Syllabus - A CIDR web guide designed to help you develop a syllabus which sets the stage for learning throughout the course

... more on Course Design