Have you heard about the i>Clicker classroom response system being used and unsure whether it’s worthwhile to include in your course? Already planning to use i>Clicker but need guidance or recommendations? Join us for a brown bag lunch and see how an instructor at USC uses the Blackboard-compatible i>Clickers and i>Clicker REEF Polling enabled mobile devices to improve her large face-to-face course and solve problems common to a large lecture setting. Participants will be guided through the steps to set up the system, learn trouble-shooting techniques and recommendations, and participate in a demonstration of ways the tool can be used most effectively. Come discover how this educational technology can enhance your classroom methods and lead to better student learning!  Register

Courses with a large number of students are intended to be an efficient (and cost effective) means of delivering material.  Typically delivered in a lecture format, these large courses share many features with courses of lower enrollment.  However, the larger class size often seems impersonal and students may not connect with the material or the instructor.  We will discuss methods by which you can enhance your delivery of material and also increase the likelihood your students will meet you half-way resulting in a better experience for everyone. Register

In order to teach students to “learn to learn,” the focus of education has shifted towards maximizing the quality of student-instructor contact time and emphasizing application of knowledge and skills in the classroom. Want to learn how to incorporate active learning from the ground up – the do’s, don’ts and best practices? This interactive workshop will provide perspectives on successful integration of active learning strategies in the classroom along with a brief discussion of perceived obstacles, solutions, and examples of active learning methods. Participants will have the opportunity to create a plan for incorporating specific strategies, techniques or tools into their teaching.  Register

Do you ever wonder if you could do more to help students master the content in your courses? Do you wish you knew how to increase student engagement and understanding in your classes? In this interactive and high-energy workshop, participants will experience first-hand the impact simple instructional strategies have on student engagement. Participants will analyze two model lessons to uncover best practices in strategically constructing student understanding. The session will conclude with participants applying the strategies modeled throughout the workshop and an informal question-and-answer session.  Register

During your attempts to engage students in discussions and thoughtful interactions, do you consider the nature of questions that you ask? During this interactive workshop, the presenter will provide an overview of divergent and convergent questioning strategies that can be used to engage your students in a more effective manner. Drawing from research on pedagogy, there will be opportunities for participants to develop and practice questioning strategies that they can use in their respective courses.  Register

It has almost become a truism in higher education 'We aim to increase critical thinking skills.' Or perhaps, 'We want students to be change agents.' Yet, how do instructors actually do this? What does this look like in different disciplines? How does this inform actual practice?

In this interactive workshop, Darin Freeburg will walk participants through a Knowledge Lens for instruction. This lens is intended to change how instructors see their classrooms and the students within them. As with any camera lens, it corrects for inaccuracies in the picture. When this picture comes through more clearly, critical thinking and innovation can occur within the classroom. Instead of waiting for students to be change agents when they graduate, we ask them to do it while they're here.

Questions include:

• What does it mean to see classrooms as complex systems?
• What does it mean to see students as creative and autonomous agents?
• What is the importance of conversation and dialogue?
• How can instructors inspire student action?
• Can we turn classrooms into Communities of Practice?  Register

All USC faculty, instructors and graduate teaching assistants are invited to participate in the ninth annual Oktoberbest: A Symposium on Teaching on Friday, October 12, 2018. Join colleagues from across USC campuses for this free one-day symposium focused on sharing best practices in teaching.

The Oktoberbest schedule has a wide variety of workshops on topics ranging from active learning and online course development to critical thinking and integrative learning. The event will include:

• Breakfast with our keynote speaker, Pamela E. Barnett
• Panel discussion on the 'Implications of the Horizon Report' facilitated by Debbie Yoho, a doctoral candidate in Library and Information Sciences
• Choice of Concurrent Sessions presented by your colleagues at USC
• Closing reception featuring door prizes and traditional Oktoberfest fare

Oktoberbest is free to all who teach or support teaching at USC, but is not open to the general public.  Register

What happens to student engagement, interaction and learning when you incorporate educational technologies? Participants will explore easy and inexpensive technologies available for incorporation into the classroom bringing boring lecture content to life and actively engaging learners. In this interactive workshop, we will discuss and demonstrate several tools, share examples of in-class active learning, successes and challenges and identify future steps for successful implementation.  Register

Tired of looking out at a classroom full of glazed-over stares? Do "snores happen"? You CAN push students out of their comfort zone and pull them right into the learning process. Join us for this fun and fast-paced session in which you will learn how to set the stage for student engagement, integrate active learning techniques into your courses, and get your students involved in the learning process.  Register