Examples of Course Redesign Projects

Students review learning objectives, key concepts and supplemental material posted on the class myWPI site prior to class and complete online quizzes, which provide immediate feedback to students and data for instructors to assess student knowledge levels. During class, the instructors use clickers to compile and display students' responses to problem-solving activities. Class time is divided into short lecture segments followed by sessions in which students work in small groups applying concepts to solve problems posed by the instructors. Instructors reduce class time spent on topics the students clearly understand, increase time on problem areas, and target individual students for remedial help.
Students use online interactive activities and simulations to review and augment text material. Students receive credit for completing four online mastery quizzes each week and are encouraged to take the quizzes as many times as needed until they attain a perfect score. Only the highest scores count.
Reduce class meetings from four to two each week. Create online resources (such as recorded presentations, demonstrations, animations, simulations, videos, etc.) that allow students to cover key concepts of theory-based content. Allow students to practice their knowledge in online self tests. Use the remaining class meetings for discussion and group activities.
In a foreign language class, reduce class-meeting times from 3 to 2 per week. Move grammar instruction, practice exercises, testing, writing, and small-group activities focused on oral communication to the online environment. Use in-class time for developing and practicing oral communication skills.
Engage students in the course content by having student groups teach the rest of the class about a key concept in the course. Students create a wiki page or a multimedia project that teaches the other students about each concept.

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Last modified: Jan 28, 2008, 11:39 EST