Tag: student engagement

SIP 2.7 Formative Assessment

Thirsty for Strong Instructional Practice? Formative assessments are formal or informal feedback tools to learn what your students have or have not learned in class. They are quick and detailed feedback to let the students know how they are doing and to let the teacher know when to re-teach or to move on with a …

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Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-2-7-formative-assessment/

SIP 2.5 Classroom Discussions

Female student speaking in class with another student watching

Thirsty for Strong Instructional Practice? Discussions can be an excellent strategy for enhancing student motivation, fostering intellectual agility, and encouraging democratic habits. They create opportunities for students to practice and sharpen a number of skills, including the ability to articulate and defend positions, consider different points of view, and enlist and evaluate evidence.  While discussions …

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Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-2-5-classroom-discussions/

SIP 2.4 First-Year Students

Thirsty for Strong Instructional Practice? As professors, faculty, and administrators, most of us are familiar with the challenge of engaging first year students in academic work and social life on campus.  However, it is important to take note of the special attention that must be given to first-year students during this critical time of transition.  …

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Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-2-4-first-year-students/

SIP 2.3 Class Discussions

Four students having a discussion in a classroom

Thirsty for Strong Instructional Practice? Class discussions in which every student participates are a dream for faculty—and sometimes merely a fantasy. We may assume that students who are quiet during discussions are unprepared or disengaged, but another very likely explanation is that they are simply introverted. Many studies put the percentage of introverts in the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-2-3-class-discussions/

SIP 2.1 Ice Breakers

Thirsty for Strong Instructional Practice? Welcome to the first day of the new semester!  Everyone is excited, the room is filled with promise.  You don’t want to kill the mood by spending the entire first day going over the syllabus, but when you enter the classroom and look at 25 new students, you wonder how …

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Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-2-1-ice-breakers/

SIP 1.14: Project-Based Learning

Four college students working on a project together

Thirsty for a Strong Instructional Practice? Regardless of discipline, some content lends itself to opportunities for students to engage in the community and be more self-directed in their learning. Project-based learning can provide a structure to increase student inquiry and motivation. Take a SIP of this: Project-Based Learning What is PBL? Project Based Learning is …

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Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-1-14-project-based-learning/

SIP 1.10: Polling to Expand Student Participation

This is a picture of dozens of students in a large lecture hall. All of the students have computers out in front of them and there are large screens around the whole room.

Thirsty for a Strong Instructional Practice? Getting a large group of students involved in class interaction can be a challenge. Some students participate willingly while others are more reluctant. Take a SIP of this: Polling to Expand Student Participation Interactive technologies can provide a platform that will encourage broader interaction. Through the web-based technologies listed below …

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Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-1-10-polling-to-expand-student-participation/

SIP 1.9: Beyond the Lecture

Thirsty for a Strong Instructional Practice? Many of us teach college as we were taught, through lecture. Although this method has its merits, research shows that students retain more from a class when they are active participants in the learning process (see triangle chart). Take a SIP of this: Beyond the Lecture Students who are …

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Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-1-9-beyond-the-lecture/

SIP 1.8: Inclusive Class Discussions

Several college students in a classroom with a professor. All of the students have their hands raised.

Thirsty for a Strong Instructional Practice? Exchanging information, ideas and opinions in open and provocative discussion lies at the heart of inclusive and collaborative learning. A good discussion can be an unmatched learning experience as students articulate their ideas and develop skills in evaluating the evidence of their own and others’ positions. Given such, it …

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Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-1-8-inclusive-class-discussions/

SIP 1.7: Instructional Grouping

Thirsty for a Strong Instructional Practice? We want students to engage with course material. Unless we create opportunities for students to interact with content in the course materials, they might only encounter it once. Take a SIP of this: Instructional Grouping Benefits and purposes of grouping Encourages student communication and development of academic, discipline-specific language …

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Permanent link to this article: https://sites.msudenver.edu/sips/sip-1-7-instructional-grouping/