Active Learning in a Large Lecture Hall

Presenter: Long Nguyen, Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship, Washington State University
Description:
I adapted MIS 250 to accommodate a cap increase from 70 to 200 students. The main takeaway is that active learning still works in a 300-seat lecture hall with a few adjustments. The adjustments call for a combination of lecture chunking, technologies, and policies that facilitate active learning.
First, each class alternates between “chunks” of mini-lectures and in-class activities, lasting about 15 minutes each. The switching adds variety and helps maintain students’ attention and engagement. Lectures are co-created with students. I utilized white-boarding techniques instead of slides. This encourages students to take notes. Interactive activities involve case studies, on-the-spot research, discussions, and live surveys on a learning management system (LMS). Students engage in think-pair-share in pairs, where each student holds the other accountable. Pairing also overcomes the rigidness of lecture hall seating. The instructor’s movement around the room also facilitates activity participation.
Second, technologies ensure a smooth experience. I use a tablet to whiteboard. It is shared with the classroom computer via Zoom for projection. This frees me to move around the lecture hall. Live polling on an LMS enables simultaneous display of results and illuminates class discussions. The LMS can also automatically grade students and reduce out-of-class workload for the instructor.
Last, class policies support in-class norms. In-class activities are graded on participation, without make-up opportunities. Electronics are strictly banned during mini-lecture time. No slides or handouts are provided. In the mid-semester survey, students felt positively about this approach. Observations by 3 WSU faculty members also highlighted its successes.