Three tech tools that increase student engagement in the large college classroom
This week I worked on setting up my large lecture course for the spring semester. It’s a freshman-level course that introduces students to advertising and public relations. It’s a fascinating topic that appeals not only to our majors but to a wide variety of students from across campus. The course has grown to 250 students over the years and I teach it in one of the largest lecture halls on campus.
I always keep notes throughout the semester so that I can continue to tweak my courses when I teach them again and I also ask students for feedback frequently. I have taught the course now in many different delivery modes, including in-person and online over the course of a semester, online in an abbreviated three-week format, and of course everyone’s favorite, the “hyflex” format. The hyflex format included simultaneous on-campus and synchronous online instruction when COVID-19 reared its ugly head and forced educators around the world to create workable learning environments during an ongoing crisis.
Although I am a certified online instructor, I feel fortunate to be back in the in-person classroom, following our campus’s carefully developed safety precautions. My students are happy to be back as well and together, we’ve come to appreciate being in the same room at the same time and using technology strategically to enhance teaching and learning.
This past fall I thought a lot about how to create a “new normal” learning environment for my students, who are mostly freshmen. For many of them, my class was their first large college classroom experience. My goals were to create a community of learners that would actively engage with the course and with each other, while also (re-)introducing them to group work, and providing quick feedback on their work. These goals were challenging, particularly in a large lecture course, but I’ve used three tech tools that helped me along the way:
TextExpander. One of my favorite tech tools is TextExpander. This tool lets you use templates to answer common questions students may have or common mistakes you need to fix on papers. It’s organized as “snippets” and each one is triggered by an abbreviated text code. For example, I usually contact students who have missed a deadline using Canvas’s “Message students who…” feature and I created different snippets that spell out why they are receiving the message with instructions on what to do next. Sure, you could park your templates in Google docs and copy and paste them as needed, but with TextExpander I simply type the letters “xmis” and the following message appears instantly:
“Hi! You are receiving this message because your [NAME OF ASSIGNMENT] is either missing or incomplete. Your success in this class is important to me. I opened the assignment back up so that you can submit or resubmit your work. Please do so by the end of [date].”
I have created many snippets over time, including comments regarding writing, reminders, etc. Students told me that they loved getting reminders like these, which has also cut questions down to a minimum. If you teach a large lecture course, this is a priceless tool, not only because it helps students but because it also increases your efficiency and effectiveness. Speaking of price, you can use this tool for less than $40 per year and in my opinion, it’s worth every penny.
Top Hat. Top Hat is an “all-in-one teaching platform” that can increase engagement and motivation among students. There are many different ways to incorporate it into class but I mostly use it for low-stakes quizzes during class and to take attendance. Although I don’t give credit for attending class, I do take attendance with Top Hat to have a record of who was there. Top Hat generates a unique attendance code that students will use to “sign-in.” It can be geo-fenced if it’s important that students attend in person. However, I disabled this function during parts of the pandemic, when I ran a synchronous live stream during each class so that students who were sick, exposed, or otherwise unavailable could still participate from where they were isolating.
During class, I use Top Hat by posing questions that students can answer using their phone or computer. They get partial credit just for participating and full credit if they get it right. Instructors get a feel for students’ understanding of the material instantly and can address any “muddy points” immediately during class. Top Hat is integrated into our learning management system so students know where they stand in real time. I also use it for partner activities and exam reviews and all of the Top Hat scores comprise students’ participation grade. Students have commented very positively on the way we use this tool in class and have said that it keeps them engaged and interested. It’s a $30 subscription per semester for students but if multiple instructors use it, they only pay the fee once. Since my university participates in the Inclusive Access program, which makes textbooks available to students electronically for a very low price, I can justify the cost.
Spotify. You heard me right: Spotify! It can be challenging to create community in a large class and I know that anxiety levels among students (and instructors) can be high. I like to get to my large class as early as possible (I want to be the first one there) to get set up and signal to students that it’s a good idea to come a few minutes early to get settled. During that time, I like to play some music to set the tone. But I want students to co-create the playlist. So I set up a public Spotify playlist (take a listen here) and give students the link to add their own songs. That way, they take ownership of the learning environment and have some fun at the same time. I use the playlist before and after class and while they’re working on a team or partner exercise. Cool bonus discovery: One of my students is a recording artist, so his song will be a permanent fixture on the playlist.
There are so many tech tools that can either get in the way of learning or contribute to it and these three are my current favorites because they help me meet my two goals for teaching in a large classroom: to create community and increase engagement. What are your favorite tech tools and how do you use them?
