Instructional Methods & Activities
Student Feedback
It's important to provide students with performance feedback so they can be successful in understanding and demonstrating course goals. To be effective feedback should be:
- understandable - using language the student will understand
- selective - two to three things the student can do something about
- specific - link to examples in the student's work
- timely - in time to inform the next assignment, class work
- contextualized - link to learning goals, assessment criteria
- nonjudgmental - descriptive, focused on the learning goals
- balanced - positive reinforcement along with improvement areas
- forward-looking - suggestions for improving upcoming assignments
- transferable - focused on processes, skills, self-regulating abilities
- encouraging a growth mindset - encourage students' ability to succeed
McKeachies’ Teaching Tips 13th Edition (2011, 110)
Engaging Discussions
Engage students in discussions:
- start a discussion with a common experience, a controversy or disagreement, questions
- give students questions at the end of class for discussion in the next class
- have students evaluate the validity of internet sources
- give different assignments to teams of students
- ask students to turn in questions on the assignment
- ask students to teach back content
McKeachies’ Teaching Tips 13th Edition (2011, 110)
Incorporate Lecture
The lecture is an age-old instructional strategy when approached judiciously:
- no more than 10-15 minutes
- summarize material over a variety of sources
- no more than 10-15 minutes
- summarize material over a variety of sources
- focus on key concepts, principles, ideas
- analyze materials, pose questions and problems, develop a hypothesis, bring evidence to bear, evaluate alternatives, use examples, think together with students to show your process
- provide periodic summaries, check for understanding, ask for examples
- ask students to summarize major points (minute paper)
- provide exercises and space for notes
- use automated polling response systems - clickers
- pair with small groups activities
McKeachies’ Teaching Tips 13th Edition (2011, 110)
Activate Learning
Active learning strategies are powerful and engaging:
- Think, Pair, Share
- Team Learning
- Debate, Discuss, Dialogue
- Pose Questions
- Problem Solving, Critiques
- Simulations, Case Studies
- Teach back
- Brainstorm
- Role Play, Games
- Peer Feedback, Peer Tutoring
- Personal Reflection
- Action Plan
- Stump the Class
- Research, Explore
- Discovery learning
- Prove or Disprove
McKeachies’ Teaching Tips 13th Edition (2011, 110)