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Pedagogical Opportunities at UIowa

Presented to the New Faculty Orientation

Alison Bianchi, Associate Professor, Sociology

Cornelia Lang, Associate Professor, Physics & Astronomy

August 19, 2015

Opportunities at U Iowa

�  Engagement in large lectures �  Effective use of small groups

�  Technologies that support both

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Classes Alison Has Taught:

�  With Small Groups: � Research Methods (undergraduate – 7 times in TILE

classroom) � Research Methods (graduate) � First Year Seminar � This Semester: Small Group Analysis & Sociology of

Religion

�  With Large Classroom: � Introduction to Sociology � Principles of Social Psychology � Gender and Society

Classes Cornelia Has Taught:

�  With Large Classroom : �  Stars, Galaxies and the Universe (300+) �  Exploration of the Solar System (150+) �  Life in the Universe (150+)

�  With Small Classroom : �  General Astronomy I and II (intro majors course) �  Radio Astronomy (undergrad/grad course) �  Galaxies in the Universe (graduate seminar)

�  With Small Groups (in TILE room) : �  Origins of Life in the Universe “Big Ideas” course (VAN 350) �  redesigned introductory labs for Stars, Galaxies & Universe and

Exploration of the Solar System in active learning format (TILE rooms)

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Multidisciplinary “Big Ideas” Courses in TILE rooms

�  General Education courses centered around a theme or current issue (rather than silo-ed into a single discipline)

�  Courses very relevant to students lives and centered around “Big Ideas” or “Big Questions”

Titles of Courses (Fall 2015): Origins of Life in the Universe, People & the Environment, Policy Matters, History & Science of Oil and Creativity for a Lifetime

Engagement  in  a  Large  Lecture  –  Tip  1  

Use  ques'ons  –  even  in  a  huge  lecture  room!    

 •  ask  a  ques'on  

•  have  students  discuss  (let  the  room  go  “wild”  for  a  minute)  

•  then  call  on  several  people  to  report  out  

•  also  can  write  reading  “quizzes”  in  ICON  to  complete  before  class  

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Engagement  in  a  Large  Lecture  –  Tip  2  

Don’t  forget  to  make  it  personal  and  relevant!      •  use  relevant  examples  from  your  

research  

•  show  what  you  do    

•  explain  what  your  role  is  as  a  scholar/scien'st/ar'st  

•  “Astronomy  Picture  of  the  Day”  –  NASA  website  

Engagement  in  a  Large  Lecture  –  Tip  3  

Use  Clickers!    

•  Turning  Point  Clickers  •  Standard  –  Campuswide  •  Available  at  bookstore  •  Need  to  put  on  syllabus  •  Get  receiver,  training  from  ITS  (many  sessions)  

 

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Engagement  in  a  Large  Lecture  –  Tip  3  

Let’s  Do  IT!    

•  Set  the  frequency  of  clicker    

•  Receiver  plugs  into  Laptop    

Ques.on  #1  

Will  you  be  teaching  a  large  lecture  course  (50+)  during  your  first  year?  

 1/A:  YES  2/B:  NO      

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Ques.on  #2  

Will  you  be  teaching  General  Educa.on  students?  

 1/A:  YES  2/B:  NO      

Pretest #1: True or False?

The Full Moon can be seen during the day.

1.  True 2.  False

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You can tell the moon phase by - looking at its face - observing what time it rises/sets

Full Moon Rises ~ sunset Sets ~ sunrise Highest ~ 12 am

First Quarter Moon Rises ~ noon Sets ~ midnight Highest ~ 6 pm

New Moon Rises ~ sunrise Sets ~ sunset highest ~ noon

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Question #1: If you observe the moon to be rising at sunset, what phase is it in?

1.  Full 2.  1st Quarter 3.  New 4.  Third Quarter

Question #2: True or False?

The Full Moon can be seen during the day.

1.  True 2.  False

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Moon phases viewed during day

Third quarter: rises at midnight, sets at noon

First quarter moon: rises at noon, sets at midnight

Waning Crescent; rises at 3 am; set at 3 pm

ICON https://icon.uiowa.edu

� Iowa Courses ONline (powered by Desire2Learn)

� Used to view and download materials, engage in discussions, submit assignments, take quizzes, check grades, or engage in other online activities

� Comparable to BlackBoard, Moodle, Drupal Gardens, or the custom one from your university

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Use with Modzilla Foxfire

or

Google Chrome,

NOT Microsoft E

xplorer

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tile.uiowa.edu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvEN4jJ4WUM

�  8 classrooms throughout campus http://tile.uiowa.edu/technology �  TILE Essentials Training � An intensive, multi-hour session designed to give

instructors the foundational concepts and skills in the student-centered, active learning teaching practices supported in the TILE classrooms. Participants in this session will engage with active learning pedagogy, develop course learning outcomes and modules/lesson plans, gain familiarity with the TILE technology, and learn the basics of course transformation.

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�  sdfsdf

What techniques can we use to make sure your students are reading the course material?

�  Why don’t students read?

�  They assume that the professor will present what is important in class (Doyle 2008)

�  The reading itself is daunting … what is important? Why? (Schwartz & Fischer 2006)

�  During their past educational experiences, never really read (Weir 2009)

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� So what about our little problem of not reading?

� Being prepared in the “flipped” classroom environment is imperative for the students.

� Use the “groupiness” of the TILE classroom set-up to do group quizzes!!

Question 1: “TILE” stands for

A. Transform, Interact, Engage, Learn B. Technology, Information, Engage,

Learn C. Transform, Interact, Enlighten, Lift D. Teach, Interact, Enlighten, Learn

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Question 2: Cornelia is from the ______ Department, and Alison is from the

_______ Department.

A. Astronomy; Sociology & Anthropology B. Astronomy; Sociology C. Physics & Astronomy; Psychology D. Physics & Astronomy; Sociology

Question 3: Iowa City is the ______ largest city in Iowa.

A. second B. third C. fourth D. fifth

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Question 4: Where is the Center for Teaching located on campus?

A. 300 Jefferson Building B. 2800 University Capitol Centre C. W28D Seashore Hall D. Van Allen 350

Question 5: What was the percentage of female first year students in 2014?

A. 48% B. 50% C. 54% D. 58%

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Important Links for Information

�  http://teach.its.uiowa.edu/

�  http://teach.its.uiowa.edu/initiatives/big-ideas �  http://teach.its.uiowa.edu/resources/pd/flc �  http://teach.its.uiowa.edu/resources/extraordinary-

teaching-project �  http://teach.its.uiowa.edu/early-career

Best Wishes to you all …

Welcome to The University of Iowa family!!!