Inspired by Deslauriers et al. (2019), this study investigates the link between perceived and actual learning outcomes in college psychology courses. The authors evaluated active vs. passive learning methods' effectiveness in developmental and introductory psychology classes over two semesters. Participants experienced either group discussions and…

Student engagement is a significant challenge facing administrators and faculty at institutions of higher learning (Carle, Jafee, Vaughn, & Eder, 2009). While the research emphasis to this point has been on students' perceptions of overall engagement (macro-engagement) across all of their experiences within a university, the authors assert that it…

Examined whether students who studied together outside class did better on exams than those who studied alone, and whether pedagogical method (cooperative/active learning versus lecture) influenced students' out-of-class study behavior. Mean exam scores were generally higher for students who studied in groups, regardless of teaching style, and…

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…

Reports on a two-year project in a biology course for nonmajors in which lectures were replaced with guided learning activities and weekly exams designed to help students gain the confidence to be independent learners, especially in science, assume responsibility for their own learning, improve study skills, and make more effective use of class…

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…