Using WebCT and Laptops For Active Learning in the Classroom

Using WebCT and Laptops For Active Learning in the Classroom Can Akkan Graduate School of Management Sabancı University

Agenda • My ultimate goal in using technology in the classroom • Methods by which I try to accomplish this • How these methods are implemented using available technology • Q & A

Primary Objective • Make a large class feel like a small one

Large vs Small Class • Small Class: • Interactive • Students think along • Students know each other • Students can get help easily outside class • Large Class: • Monologue • Students fall asleep in class • Students do not know their neighbors • Help? What help?

Making MGMT 201 a Small Class • Interactive • Students think along • Students know each other • Students can get help easily outside class • Students have many ways to give feedback In-class exercises Initial Survey Online discussions Two-Minute-Papers

In-Class Exercises • Exercises could be both quantitative and qualitative • Possible tasks: • Recall prior material • Answer a question • Start a problem solution • Work out next step in a calculation • Think of an application or an example • … etc.

Using Technology … • To easily collect in-class exercises and evaluate them • Exercises done in Excel workbooks • Students download a file from WebCT • Complete the exercise • Upload the file • Grading • Download all files from WebCT • An Excel macro is used to create a table of all students’ work

Get-to-Know-You Survey • Gender • Year • Faculty • Program choice • Town family lives • Student club membership • Internship experience

Two-Minute Paper 2 minutes before the end of each session students fill out a survey asking: • The main point(s) • The muddiest (least clear) point(s)

Exams • Using laptops as well • Can’t use WebCT • Can’t stop students from communicating with each other • Using a special purpose server to distribute and collect files

Next, some screen shots …

An In-class Exercise

After Downloading Student Files

The Grading Macro

Output of Grading Macro • Grade entry to WebCT is done manually

Results of the Minute-Paper Surveys

Thanks!Any questions ?

Using WebCT and Laptops For Active Learning in the Classroom

Using WebCT and Laptops For Active Learning in the Classroom

Presentation Transcript

Using Tablet PCs for Active Learning in the CS Classroom

Ubiquitous Presenter: Supporting Active Learning in the Classroom and more

Distance Learning Using WebCT

Mobile Learning: Using SmartPhones in the Classroom

Active Learning in an Interactive Classroom

Using Cases to Bring Active Learning Into Your Classroom

Active Learning and Technology in the Classroom

Using Learning Centers in the Classroom

Creating an Active-Learning Classroom

Using Classroom Assessment Techniques to Enhance Active Learning

Laptops in the Classroom

Laptops in the Classroom

Using WebCT for campus-based online learning

Creating and using Learning Profiles in the Classroom

Toward Scientific Teaching: Active Learning in the Classroom

Creating and Using Learning Profiles in the Classroom

Classroom Strategies for Active Learning

Laptops for Learning

Using MathML in Blackboard/WebCT

Active Learning In, Through, and Beyond the University Library and Classroom

Active Learning in the Economics Classroom