2015 Buckeye Teaching Showcase

How Should We Teach Controversial Issues?

Douglas Yacek, Philosophy of Education

In this talk, I will suggest that the way we teach controversial issues should be determined not only by considering the morally appropriate behavior of teachers, but also by considering the conditions under which an issue becomes a controversy for students at all. Centering controversy around students’ needs has important consequences for pedagogy which do not arise in focusing exclusively on the teacher. In particular, the role that drama and role modelling have to play in teaching controversial issues becomes clear.

 Assessment and Student Motivation to Learn

Amanda Baker, Educational Psychology

Assessment can present evidence of student progress, suggest ways to improve instruction, and provide students with feedback about their own learning. Classroom assessment methods, and the ways in which these are incorporated into the overall structure of a course, can also have a significant impact on student motivation to learn. This presentation will explore the theoretical link between classroom assessment and student motivation, describe a variety of assessment methods and discuss their impact on student motivation, and share practical tips and ideas for incorporating these assessment methods in different classroom settings.

Assessing the Prior Knowledge of Your Students

Mine Dogucu, Quantitative Research, Evaluation and Measurement

Each learner comes to the classroom with different prior learning experiences and in each classroom the level of knowledge is diverse among students. In order to identify the background knowledge that each student brings to the classroom, it is important to assess the prior knowledge. The techniques adapted in classrooms range from informal conversations about students’ prior experiences to formal tests with correct and incorrect responses. Some of the techniques are based on self-report where as others are based on the evaluation of the teacher. Even though there are multiple techniques to assess the prior knowledge, the core idea stays the same across these different techniques. This discussion will cover self-assessment techniques and classroom assessment techniques that are widely used in learning environments.

Getting Students Motivated

Marissa Green, Educational Psychology

The purpose of this table talk is to discuss the various ways in which students can be encouraged by their teachers to be motivated to learn.  Specifically, the presenter will discuss several motivational theories that research has shown to be effective in increasing students’ motivation, such as achievement goal theory, the four-phase model of interest development, and self-determination theory.

Parental Involvement: How to Maximize the Benefits and Avoid the Pitfalls

J. Kessa Roberts, Educational Policy

Often as educators, we focus on how to promote student growth and achievement without utilizing one of our greatest resources: parents. This table talk will focus on how educators can maximize the potential resources of parental involvement while avoiding some common pitfalls associated with this partnership. Issues to be discussed are the importance of parental involvement and the need to encourage involvement from all parents in order to avoid exacerbating existing educational inequalities.

On Using Thought Experiments For Teaching Ethics

Jamie E. Teeple, Philosophy of Education

In my presentation, I seek to elucidate how “thought experiments”, or imaginary (and sometimes fanciful) scenarios can assist the ethics educator in teaching about abstract concepts like duty, consequence, and “the good”. I will draw upon two thought experiments I use in class during my presentation, challenging my listeners to explore the nuances of two unusual ethical dilemmas.

Boosting Student Engagement Through Activity-Based Lessons

Naima Khandaker, Educational Psychology

This table discussion will focus on maximizing student engagement and participation using small-group and whole-class activities. Topics will include: designing relevant activities, logistical considerations, allowing for student choice, and examples of various activities TAs can use with their students.

Teaching Your Peers: A Reflection on Teaching Fellow Graduate Students

Robert Nichols, Quantitative Research, Evaluation and Measurement

This informal discussion will focus on the unique challenges and experiences that can arise when teaching one’s peers. Although primarily based on my experience teaching fellow graduate students, I believe many parts of the discussion can also be applied to situations in which an advanced undergraduate is teaching less experienced undergraduates.

Multicultural Competency in the Classroom

Nicole Brown, School Psychology 

Erin McClure, School Psychology

This table talk information session will look at multicultural competency in the classroom from the teacher or GTA perspective by asking, “are applying this perspective at a college level?” We will distribute a checklist on multicultural competency for the audience to fill out and discuss. Then will provide information from the perspective of Multicultural School Consultation (MSC) by Ingraham (2000) and the social justice perspective. The take away message for our talk is to make perspective teachers and/or current GTAs aware of multicultural competency and how it can be utilized in the classroom at the college level.

Tips and Tricks for Teaching Online

CJ Potter, Counselor Education

Not sure if teaching an online course can have the same “feel” as a traditional face-to-face class?  This session will discuss how teaching an online course has the potential to meet (and potentially exceed) those expectations.  The discussion will focus on the organization of content and the instructor’s “presence” throughout a course.  Tips will be grouped by suggestions for before, during, and after a term.

Help Me See That I Belong: Fostering a Sense of Belonging in the Classroom

Leah Hoops, Higher Education and Student Affairs

be—long

verb \bi-ˈlȯŋ, bē-\

to be suitable, appropriate, or advantageous

to be in a proper situation

to be a member of a group

to be properly classified

9 Ways to Increase Teaching Effectiveness: A Wellness Perspective

Sean Gorby, Counselor Education

As educators, our ability to teach our students is more than the intervention or pedagogy manipulated. Our teaching inevitably is an extension of ourselves, a manifestation of our own humanity. Because of the humanistic aspect involved in education, it is important as educators and future educators to attend to our personal wellness. This roundtable will discuss wellness, the importance of wellness within the educator, how a healthy balance and integration of the various domains of wellness impact student learning, and strategies to promote wellness as an educator.