Material Detail

Teaching large, undergraduate, non-major biology courses represents an enormous hurdle for any instructor. Effectiveness in this endeavor requires innovative techniques addressing multiple activities including active student engagement, automated quiz and exam mechanisms, and accurate record keeping. In this particular case study, students were asked to "partner" with the instructor and produce multimedia presentations of important course concepts. Learning management software (Blackboard VISTA™) was utilized to automate delivery, grading, and recording of quizzes and exams. A class of 167 students majoring in business was divided into groups of 5-6 individuals per group. Over the course of the ten-week term, 34 multimedia presentations were given by these groups. Two major exams and multiple lab activities including quizzes were delivered, graded, and recorded using Blackboard VISTA™. Overall, this large course was effectively taught by encouraging student engagement through active participation in the development of multimedia presentations. Effective management of the course was realized through reliable technological support of administrative functions using Blackboard VISTA™ learning management software.

Disciplines:

• Academic Support Services  / Faculty Development  / Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

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