Re: "lecture preparation": a new form of active learning?

If you have the students go over the lecture before it happens, then why are
you going to do the lecture?  You'll be behind the students, rather than
ahead of them.  Furthermore, the lecture serves to bring data not in the
book to the students, in some cases it is information which could not be in
the book or notes.

Try having the students come up with problems for your exams.  They should
give the problem, solution, and an indication of how or why a student might
err.

Michael


"Amir Michail" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Hi,
>
> I was wondering if you could give me feedback on the following idea
> for active learning. (I don't know if it is new or not.)
>
> The idea is this:
>
> * allocate say 20% of the final mark for "lecture preparation"
>
> * release detailed lecture notes one week in advance; if detailed
>   lecture notes are not available, then at least release the standard
>   notes along with some references that students can look up
>
> * students must discuss the lecture in a slashdot-style forum
>   BEFORE the lecture is given; the discussion occurs among students
> only
>
> * students are rewarded for good questions, good answers to questions
>   posted by other students, insightful comments, slashdot-style
> moderation,
>   coverage of most of the lecture, and participating in most lecture
>   discussions
>
> * only original postings count for marks so cheating should not be
>   much of a problem
>
> The goals behind all of this are the following:
> * maximize student understanding of the lecture (I think it is less
>   likely that that they would be lost if they have thought about and
>   discussed the material already with their peers.)
> * encourage students to learn on their own
> * encourage students to discuss deep concepts with their peers
> * encourage students to be more analytical of lecture content
> * allow the lectures to be more advanced and conceptual in nature
>   than is possible without student lecture preparation
>
> In addition, the professor can watch this discussion in progress and
> improve the lecture presentation and notes before the lecture is given
> and the notes finalized.
>
> Do you think this would work?  Has anyone tried it?
>
> Amir