Learning Assistants
In traditional, large-enrollment courses, students learn primarily from instructors. But various kinds of peer interaction—from team-based learning to periodic group work— can help students enhance their learning. In a Learning Assistant (LA) program, trained undergraduates, i.e., “near peers,” are involved in planning and implementing activities in class that increase engagement and support learning. This method […]
Active Learning
How can faculty inspire students to take a more central role in their learning? Active learning is a term used to describe instructional strategies that promote students' active participation in knowledge construction processes (Bonwell & Eisen 1991; Prince 2004). Such strategies may include hands-on activities, brief writing and discussion assignments, problem solving tasks, information gathering […]
