Class Preparation: Ensuring Students Are Ready for Higher-Level Learning

Active learning—or the “Flipped Classroom”—is a much more engaging way for students to learn. It fosters the development of critical thinking and higher order thinking skills. But it also puts the onus of students to do adequate preparatory work before the class session, so students have a basis of knowledge with which to work during class. How can instructors set up and sequence readings and class preparation assignments to ensure that students have the knowledge to engage in productive class discussion and activities? In this presentation, I’ll look at the scaffolded strategies—from Day 1 activities to weekly homework to paper assignments—that have been successful in my survey classes to insure most students are prepared for class discussion and fully participate in each class session.