Converting a Lecture Intensive Course into an Interactive Student Participatory Class

1. Converting a Lecture Intensive Course into an Interactive Student Participatory Class Presented by Dr. Allen M. Johnson, Jr.

2. Goal • The goal is to demonstrate the use of accelerated learning techniques that can be an example to other faculty members at Huston-Tillotson College and particular in the Computer Science Department

3. Anticipated Results • Enhance student learning • Student institutionalizes more knowledge • Student is excited about learning • Student is motivated to learn more

4. Target Course: CSC383 Computer Networks • taught for the first time by me in Spr ‘04. • had excellent slides to present in class & provided homework w some hands-on • felt something lacking in terms of providing student best possible learning experience. • book easy to read & lectures easy to comprehend, but because there was not enough student interaction and hands on, students had difficulty comprehending.

5. Objective… • Identify some accelerated learning techniques that can be incorporated into course. • Techniques employed based on work of Howard Gardner who developed “The Theory of Multiple Intelligences.” • In current course, it is too easy to rely on only linguistic intelligence and logical-mathematical intelligence. • Research will be in developing lessons that take advantage of visual-spatial intelligence and intrapersonal or social intelligence. • Lessons will be designed to promote non-linear thinking in the learning process.

6. Objective (continued) • Make the learning experience as “real world” as possible under the constraints we presently have on resources here at Huston-Tillotson College. • Projected outcome is to have the students “know the material” rather than just memorize it. This will lead to long term retention of the knowledge by the students.