Over the past two decades, postsecondary classrooms have been shifting from passive to active learning methods. This shift has been supported by behavior analysis, which has a rich history of strategies that promote active student responding and engagement. One behavior analytic strategy is interteaching, whereby students discuss questions based…

Frequent student processing of lecture content (1) clears working memory, (2) increases long-term memory storage, (3) produces retrograde memory enhancement, (4) creates episodic memories, (5) increases alertness, and (6) activates many brain structures. These outcomes increase comprehension of and memory for content. Many professors now…

The authors describe several types of classroom assessment techniques (CATs) and cognitive scaffolding procedures that they have developed over the years. They then bring the procedures together in a sample lecture/group learning class presentation.

Presents a catalog of active-learning techniques aimed at fostering student learning in the context of a lecture course. Activities range from listening practices to short writing exercises to complex group exercises. Barriers to implementing active learning, and some solutions, are explored and personal experience with the techniques are…

Ways in which violating traditional expectations about teaching helps change, shape, and focus student ability to extract meaning from works of art are discussed. Alternative teaching modes include use of inquiry methods rather than lectures, in-class reading of the artwork as text instead of assigned readings about the artwork, and group…

Study profiled excellent lecturers and discussion leaders from the perspective of 30 undergraduate students. As predicted, level of instructor interpersonal skills, focus on student personal/professional growth and on encouraging independent thinking/research were rated highly and considered more characteristic of excellent discussion leaders than…