Teaching Methods Goals

Here are some of the goals I'm thinking of including on my "initial report," due September 30:

1. Create a classroom climate of community and cooperation (holy alliteration!)

Challenges: the class is only 8 weeks long, doing work on a computer screen doesn't (on the surface) seem to lend itself to community building, I have a hard time learning names (important for community!)

Strategies: setting the stage on the first day, creating frequent opportunities for students to work collaboratively/cooperatively, encouraging students to look to other students as resources, encouraging students to be helpful and supportive of one another

2. Incorporate more active learning components to replace lecture and listening

Challenges: none that I can think of except the significant time commitment required to develop new activities and materials

Strategies: develop materials to supplement the textbook, incorporate group and partner activities, incorporate activities that help to achieve learning goals but are not computer-based (for variety, and to avoid "screen daze")

3. Divide classroom time into smaller segments to foster student engagment, access different learning styles, and keep things moving!

Challenges: I am used to teaching this class in a three-hour block in the morning to a group of students who are very motivated to learn. Previsouly my class was routinely divided up into longer segments
-10 minutes: arrival/settle in/turn in homework
-10 minutes: discussion of the "quote of the day"
-40 minutes: lecture/interactive demonstration of unit computer skills with Q&A incorporated
-10 minutes: break
-40 minutes: continued lecture/interactive demonstration of unit computer skills with Q&A incorporated
-10 minutes: break
-60 minutes: open lab time, students work together or individually on assignments with the teacher present for questions
I will have to significantly adjust my teaching methods and materials to change this format. It will also be a challenge to ensure that students get enough "concrete" information and teacher support when the time is organized differently.

Strategies: Come up with new classroom routines to accommodate shorter segments. Use a variety of activities to replace long lecture/demonstration. This goal really goes hand-in-hand with the second goal.