Hi Karen,
I use
POGIL, Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning. It is a framework that has students develop ideas and concepts on their own, while supporting necessary process skills. From their
FAQs:
"POGIL is based on the biology of learning (e.g. Zull, 2002), and has been developed and validated over the last 15 years, primarily in chemistry education (e.g. Moog, Spencer, 2008). In POGIL, teams of learners (typically 3-4) work on scripted inquiry activities and investigations designed to help them construct their own knowledge, often by modeling the original processes of discovery and research. The teams follow processes with specific roles, steps, and reports that encourage individual responsibility and metacognition. POGIL activities and processes are designed to achieve specific learning objectives. The instructor serves as a facilitator, not a lecturer. Multiple studies have examined the effectiveness of POGIL, and generally find that POGIL significantly improves student outcomes. "
I started using active learning after listening to Dr. Eric Mazur talk about
peer instruction. I thought his ideas were great, but at the time I didn't have the teaching experience to pose questions that would spur the conversations necessary to that method. I came across POGIL and it seemed to have everything I didn't: a way of structuring activities to be meaningful for students, a clear approach to classroom facilitation and student groups, and a way of talking about learning and process skills. Initially I fought many of the POGIL recommendations, and in hindsight it was my ego that prevented me from acknowledging that I didn't have all the answers. Now, I am happy to use the knowledge and experience of hundreds of POGIL practitioners, and those involved in the NSF grants to develop the framework.
My favorite part of my job right now is participating in POGIL activity reviews. Getting to work with others on improving activities, learning new methods and approaches, and suggesting solutions is well worth sacrificing some work time.
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Robert Weston, he/him/his
Clark College
Vancouver WA
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-25-2021 08:32:03
From: Karen Gaines
Subject: IMPACT in Action - Incorporating Active Learning in a Demanding Course Schedule
How do you create Active Learning activities that actively engage the students while developing proficiency in the mathematics content?
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Karen Gaines
myAMATYC Online Community Coordinator
Professor Emeritus - St. Louis CC-Meramec
Kirkwood MO
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