A captivating interview about student engagement in large enrollment classes from the perspective of Dr. Bill Verdini, a master educator at Arizona State University.
In Part 1 of this episode, Dr. Verdini shares his wealth of experience with teaching large class sections, sometimes totaling more than 600 students. Throughout the interview, he extols the value of maintaining a student-centered approach, and he gives numerous examples to illustrate it. He also reveals his tried-and-true methods for keeping these classes manageable despite their large size. As an added bonus, this candid interview includes pitfalls to avoid, and thoughts about future directions and improvements. Dr. Verdini caps off Part 1 with an M&M (yes, the candy) quality control activity.
In Part 2 of this episode, Dr. Verdini continues highlighting tips and techniques to facilitate student engagement in large enrollment classes. He addresses the challenges that typically accompany these large classes, ranging from lack of intimate student interactions to managing pre/post lecture student requests to identifying relevant teachable moments. In addition, he shares insights for handling student email, leveraging Teaching Assistants, getting the most from break-out sessions, and guiding online discussions to further support student learning. In the final analysis, Dr. Verdini embraces the idea that students must accept responsibility for their own learning, which includes regular class attendance and strong individual and group participation.