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Strategies to Increase Student Preparation
Many faculty members depend on class discussion in their classes as a more interactive way to engage students with content. However, if students have not done the required reading or assignments for the week, this method can turn into a frustration for both the faculty member as well as the students who have come to class prepared. This page will explore a variety of strategies that can be used to increase student preparation, from low-tech to high-tech.
Online Discussion
Use online discussion postings to encourage reflective writing on the reading for the week. Enforce a posting deadline that is before the next class meeting or start of the next topic and grade responses as part of a participation or attendance grade. Require students to not only post their own response to the reading but to also react to at least one of their classmates to stretch their thinking about the topic.
Online Review Quizzes
Use WebCT's online evaluation feature to offer review quizzes for students. Shut off quizzes before the next class or start of the next topic. Set up quizzes so that each one draws a random group of questions from a large database so each student gets a different quiz and students can take the quiz several times with different questions. Count the grade as part of participation.
Course Calendars
Use course calendars to keep students organized and on track.
Attendance Question Cards
Use digital photo cards as a strategy to learn student names quickly and also to randomly question students during each class. Shuffling the cards at random and keeping track of student's accuracy of response ensures students will come to class more prepared. Grades can be included in participation grade.
Creating Digital Photo Index Cards or An Online Student Photo Gallery »
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