This Week for Faculty: Strategies to engage students in any classroom
TeachingTalks is a series of brief videos that introduce teaching and learning strategies that can be incorporated into any course. Each video focuses on a specific pedagogical need, presenting an active learning strategy to help meet that need and a brief overview about how you can get started with implementation in your classroom.
Watch the following TeachingTalks and reach out to CTLfaculty@columbia.edu with questions and for assistance as you implement these strategies in your course.
Think-Pair-Share
This active learning strategy involves posing a short problem, scenario, or question to your students and giving them the time and opportunity to complete the following steps:
- Think through the problem, scenario, or question individually.
- Pair with a partner to discuss.
- Share their findings or takeaways with the rest of the class.
This strategy gives your students time to process and apply their knowledge and skills on their own first. It also gives them the opportunity to consult and collaborate with a peer. This process makes space for students to prepare to engage with the rest of the class.
Polling
Polling is a strategy to engage and assess all learners in real-time. Polls invite students to respond to questions using a mobile device. Pose questions that check for understanding, encourage application, capture multiple perspectives, promote reflection on learning, or to collect feedback from students. Learn more about using Poll Everywhere in your classroom and explore the on-demand resource Developing Poll Questions to Engage and Assess Student Thinking in Science and Engineering Courses.
Join us for upcoming sessions
Ways to Be More Inclusive in Your Course
September 19, 1:00-2:00pm
This session will also be offered on October 8 and October 21
Related resource: Guide for Inclusive Teaching at Columbia
Entering Mentoring: Addressing Equity and Inclusion
September 19, 4:00-5:00pm
Related resources on the Advancing Mentorship Practices page.
Managing Disruptive Behaviors in the Classroom | Dialogue Across Difference
September 20, 9:00-11:00am | 523 Butler Library
Led by Jenny Besch, this workshop is designed to explore specific strategies and tactics to de-escalate behaviors that may disrupt learning in the classroom. Faculty will learn techniques for effectively managing classroom interactions among students and between students and faculty. These skills will be especially important during discussions on sensitive or “hot” topics, helping to create a more inclusive environment for all students.
Science of Learning Research Initiative (SOLER) Journal Club
September 24, 11:00am-12:00pm
Join colleagues to discuss the article “Choosing to learn: The importance of student autonomy in higher education” (Cullen & Oppenheimer, 2024). The session will be led by Dr. Jalisha Jenifer, Associate Director of Faculty Development at SPS.
The CTL is here to help you throughout the semester!
Virtual Office Hours
Join us for office hours via Zoom (or phone) Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm to have your teaching with instructional technology questions answered.
*In-person Office Hours through September 20, 9am-5pm*
Stop by 212 Butler Library for in-person support to help you get your courses ready for Fall 2024! CTL Learning Designers can assist you with setting up your CourseWorks sites, making your CourseWorks sites more accessible, and help you integrate other Columbia-supported instructional technologies.
In-person support is always available by appointment! To schedule an appointment, contact the CTL at ColumbiaCTL@columbia.edu.