Effective use of technology to solve classroom problems'

1
Effective use of technologyto solve classroom
problems.

• The "Classroom Flip" and active learning in
  General Biology.

Dr. Paul Porneluzi Associate Professor of
Biology Central Methodist University
2
What classroom problems?

• Name something that interferes with teaching or
  learning in one of your classes.

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Classroom problems?

• Students dont come to class.
• Students come to class unprepared.
• Students come to class unmotivated.
• Students dont take responsibility for learning.
• Students are easily bored by lectures.
• I want to use more active forms of learning, but
  have certain basic content that must be covered.

4
Biology 101 problems?

• All of the previous, plus
• Large class with varied student interests and
  backgrounds.
• Two sections with combined total of 140-160
  students.
• Both biology majors and non-majors.
• Must teach a foundation of basic knowledge.
• Atoms, elements, molecules, chemical bonds
• For some students, this is brand new information.
  Slow down!
• For others, This is boring, we learned this in
  high school!

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• For some students, biology 101 is their first
  college level biology course.
• For other students, this is their last college
  level biology course.
• What do both groups need to know?

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The Classroom Flip

• Move some lecture material out of the classroom.
• Require students to read textbook for basic
  content units.
• Provide explanatory (lecture) notes online.
• Students control time spent studying.
• Emphasize pictures and figures.
• Require students to complete online quiz.
• Students respond when points are involved.
• Regular feedback. Students can go back to
  re-read.
• Automated grading allows for more frequent
  quizzing.
• Opportunity for multimedia quizzes. Stimulate
  different types of learners.

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The Classroom Flip

• Students come to class much better prepared.
• Theyve read the text, learned basic definitions
• Teacher comes to class better prepared.
• Ive graded the quiz to identify what material
  needs re-emphasized.
• Opens up class time to
• Answer questions, foster discussion.
• Clarify and expand.
• Apply, practice, solve problems etc
• Doing homework in class where fellow students
  and teacher can serve as a guide.
• Discuss (lecture) on more complex material.

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What do students think?

• I like the fact that we can do them on our OWN
  time.
• It is harder for me because I don't have the
  internet at home and don't have a lot of time to
  do theses assignments until right after class or
  after my next class.
• Yes I think doing the online notes and quizzes
  helps me learn the material better than just
  reading the book and taking notes.
• "I like the online assignments because when I
  come to a question I don't know no the quiz,
  instead of just guessing and not knowing what I
  am talking about, I can go back and read the
  notes over again and the book until I find the
  correct answer and it helps me to know exactly
  why the answer is correct.

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What do students think?

• I am able to get the notes online and understand
  better because I see the pictures for a prolonged
  period. The assignments really add to class. It's
  not difficult to get access when the network is
  working.
• I think these assignments do help because I
  personally get more out of things like this then
  just lectures. I think it is easier to learn
  when you do hands on assignments.
• "I really like having the quizzes online because
  we can do them when we have time. I also like
  having the notes online, because if for some
  reason I have to miss class, I can get on the
  internet and see what I missed that day.

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What do I think?

• Frequent quizzing helps keep students focused and
  encourages them to use their textbook.
• My textbook provides PowerPoint slides of all
  figures, so the link with the text is easy for
  me.
• Students do come to class better prepared.
• A few tough quiz questions stimulate discussion
  among students and with tutors.
• Use of class time is more varied.
• More in tune with shorter (diminishing?)
  attention spans.
• Important to phase change in gradually.
• Also important to let students know what you are
  doing and why.

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Active Learning and In-class Activities

• Active Learning is important but time consuming.
• Assignments prior to class help to insure that
  students have the basics and allows time in class
  for application, practice, analysis
  clarification, discussion etc
• ELMO

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In Class Activities

• 3 Examples.

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Males only

• Name the adaptation that you will investigate.
• Your job is to determine whether this is an
  adaptation and what it is for.
• State several hypotheses that explain why
  individuals have this adaptation.
• Choose one to test and state a testable
  prediction that follows from that hypothesis.
• Describe the controlled experiment you would
  perform.

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Predict Future Population Growth
List First and Last Names of All Group
Members List reasons for your projection
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• Translate the following DNA sequence into a
  protein
• TACAGATGCTGGTGTTGA
• 1. form codons
• TAC/AGA/TGC/TGG/TGT/TGA
• 2. transcribe to mRNA sequence
• AUG/UCU/ACG/ACC/ACA/ACU
• 3. translate to amino acid sequence
• methionine (start)
• serine
• threonine
• threonine
• 
  threonine
• 
  threonine
• There is redundancy in the genetic code.
• Wobble - often the 3rd base is irrelevant.

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Discussion

• Teaching Tips Online
• http//honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/Fac
  DevCom/guidebk/teachtip/teachtip.htm

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• Suppose you've been selected to be on "Survivor"
  and you are on a deserted island with a group of
  really annoying people, a large supply of corn
  and a pair of pigs.  Your best strategy would be
  to...
• feed the corn to the pigs and then feed upon
  their offspring.                       
• eat the pigs immediately and then eat the corn.
• share the corn with the pigs and then eat the
  pigs when the corn is gone.                       
  
• eat only the pigs.
• feed the most annoying member of your tribe to
  the pigs.

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