Where can I learn more?
For practical application of active learning strategies into an introductory biology class, see:
- Allen, D., & Tanner, K. (2005). Infusing Active Learning into the Large-enrollment Biology Class: Seven Strategies, from the Simple to Complex. Cell Biology Education 4: 262–268.
- Faculty Focus issued Strategies for Teaching Large Classes, a special report that focuses on learning activities and assessments in the large classroom.
For practical information derived from teaching large classes of more than 300 for 38 years, see:
- Heppner, F. 2007. Teaching the Large College Class: A Guidebook for Instructors with Multitudes. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
For ways to structure small group work into your course, see:
- Smith, K. (2000). Going Deeper: Formal Small-Group Learning in Large Classes. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 81: 25-46. Available Online.
- Texas Tech has prepared Tips for Teaching Large Classes, a collection of real and practical suggestions that includes a trouble-shooting guide for classroom management problems that arise as you teach your course
- University of Michigan.
- UNC-Charlotte.
The following websites offer a variety of forms and organizers to help you think through and accomplish large class design:
- UC-Berkeley.
- Iowa State University.