Innovation with Scale

The members of teaching faculty in CICS at UMass are going to the College of St. Rose this Saturday, April 8th, to give a panel presentation on Innovation with Scale at CCSCNE 2017.

Being an effective teacher is challenging; to do so when your enrollment doubles or triples can be overwhelming. To teach at scale requires the application of new teaching strategies, techniques, and tools to meet the demands of increasing enrollment. These large classes also present opportunities to innovate, either in terms of pedagogy or via inclusion of technological solutions. Where faculty may have been able to rely on charm and charisma as means of connecting to students, large lectures make connecting to students difficult. Research has shown that learner-centered strategies affect student perceptions of their learning, and that peer-based instruction and mentoring improve student outcomes. Our panel seeks to share a range of adaptations, innovations, and practical strategies for facilitating rich learning experiences for undergraduates in large learning environments.