Active Learning Milestone

This teaching milestone focuses on active learning and active learning classrooms. It starts with an one hour, hands-on Active Learning 101 workshop that explores the definition of active learning and active learning classrooms and then, you will experience learner-type activities such as whip-around, jigsaw, fishbowl, or muddiest point. You will also take half an hour training on technology tools in the active learning classroom. After that, you can choose to take the one hour Immersive Learning Through VR/XR hands-on workshop, the Group Work Magic course, or Reflective Teaching: Peer Class Visits & Feedback.

How Do I Earn This Milestone?

Tier 1

Complete both:

Active Learning 101
Active Learning Classroom Tour

Tier 2

Complete (2) of the following workshops/learning experiences

Formative Assessment as a Means to Student Engagement & Active Learning
360- Tour Virtual Classroom
Student Engagement

Tier 3

Choose and complete (1) one:

Classroom Observation COPUS
VR/XR Immersive Learning
Group Work Magic

Descriptions

Active learning refers to an educational approach that encourages students to take an active role in their own learning process. It goes beyond passive listening and information absorption, instead emphasizing engagement, critical thinking, problem-solving, and participation.

Objectives:
- Recall active learning strategies
- Summarize active learning strategies from discussions
- Organize information about an active learning classroom
- Evaluate ideas to utilize an active learning classroom
- Create a plan to promote active learning in your classroom
This workshop is an interactive session involving hands-on learning, collaboration, and critical thinking among participants. Participants will experience: Think-pair-share, Whip-around, Jigsaw, Fishbowl, and other strategies. Participants will also get half an hour technology training for the Active Learning Classroom.
In one of the active learning classrooms, you will discover how to leverage classroom features to engage students dynamically and facilitate effective group work. Participate in selected active learning activities tailored to the space, which you can then implement with your students. You will learn how to transform your teaching approach and create a more interactive and collaborative learning environment.
This interactive workshop will review and demonstrate some Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATS) and Active Learning strategies that can be used to engage students and gauge their ability to remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, and create (based on) course material in your learning outcomes. The workshop will highlight techniques including classroom polls, role-plays, documented case solutions, and uses for generative AI in your classes!
In this asynchronous course, learners will visit active learning classrooms (ALC) through 360 photo virtual field trips. Each ALC has detailed information about room size, maxima capacity, Audio/Video technologies equipped, tables and chairs layout, and suggestions for active learning activities. Learners will choose a few active learning classrooms that fit their courses, design classroom activities that align with their course learning objectives and assessments, and submit a proposal.

Learning objectives:

By the end of the learning session, learners will be able to:
- Explore different settings of active learning classrooms and the possibilities for all kinds of active learning activities.
- Choose an active learning classroom for their own teaching, and propose active learning activities that meet their needs.
This asynchronous course is designed to equip faculty with practical strategies to enhance student engagement across all teaching modalities. Whether you're teaching in-person, online, or in a hybrid format, this course will provide you with the tools and techniques needed to create an interactive and inclusive learning environment. Through a combination of workshops, peer collaboration, and practical applications, faculty will explore innovative methods to actively engage students, foster participation, and improve learning outcomes.

Learning objectives:

By the end of the learning session, learners will be able to:
- Create course materials that captivate student interest across various teaching modalities (UDL).
- Incorporate active learning strategies to increase student participation and collaboration.
- Integrate technological tools and platforms to enhance student interaction and engagement.
- Use inclusive teaching practices to support diverse student needs, foster a learning community, and promote a sense of belonging.
- Use feedback and reflective practices to assess the effectiveness of engagement strategies and make adjustments.
Engage with department/program peers and/or CELT to get formative feedback on your teaching and course design using CELT’s informal checklists or validated tools for in-person and online courses. Request one or more class visits or course reviews in order to set teaching goals, self-reflect, and get targeted suggestions. There is the option to add student feedback survey(s) and video recording where applicable. This selection earns you 3 to 5 hours toward the assessment milestone (dependent on the number of class visits).

Learning objectives:

By the end of the sessions, learners will be able to
- Use CELT’s tools to critically assess and improve teaching methods and course design.
- Engage with peers and CELT for feedback through class visits and reviews to set teaching goals.
- Implement constructive peer feedback to improve teaching practices.
Virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) are emerging technologies that hold great potential as educational tools. They offer immersive and interactive experiences that can enhance learning by providing realistic simulations, engaging visualizations, visualizing abstract concepts, interdisciplinary collaboration, experiential learning, and hands-on opportunities.

Objectives:
- Introduce VR technologies and its applications as educational tools.
- Test drive headset and other equipment, experience VR/XR immersively.
- Address concerns and challenges related to the learning curve, accessibility, cost, or student engagement.
- Foster collaboration and idea sharing among faculty members during the demo session.
- Provide training, support, and professional development opportunities.
- Explore future research and grant opportunities.
This hands-on in-person workshop will introduce VR tech for virtual field trip, WebXR, and simulation.
This interactive workshop focuses on how to effectively integrate group work into courses. Participants will explore various strategies for designing, implementing, and assessing group work activities that foster collaborative learning and enhance student engagement. Through hands-on activities, discussions, and best practice sharing, faculty members will gain practical insights and resources to successfully incorporate group work into their teaching practice.

Objectives:
- Identify challenges and strategies to facilitate group work
- Discuss issues that arise when creating groups
- Identify technology tools to help with group work
- Develop strategies for facilitating group work online