Active learning in the classroom (part 5)

In this session, we observe three students working together to understand a solenoid-controlled valve, with some questioning and explanation from the instructor. Though not conceptually complex, this particular subject is fraught with inconsistent nomenclature, and therefore troublesome for many new students. Today was the first exposure for many of these students to this subject.

Working together in groups rather than listening to a lecture is a far superior way for students to build problem-solving ability, and to learn to ask good questions. The presentation of facts happens before class time, as students perform reading and problem-solving assignments prior to class (held accountable to this work by a "prep quiz" at the beginning of class). The rest of class time is devoted to building a deep understanding of the concepts, with students being free to leave when they individually demonstrate a solid understanding of the subject to the instructor. This is usually referred to in education-speak as an "inverted classroom."

Category:

Education

Tags:

• instrumentation
• learning
• teaching
• groups
• problem-based
• PBL
• socratic
• inverted
• classroom

[cynofox]

LMAO! "What you said about fire water?"