Lecture, Communication, and InteractionCommunication and Interaction in GeneralCommunication and interaction in large classes is pretty much limited to the teacher lecturing and asking a few questions of students. Isn't that what happens in small classes, too? So what is the big deal? Even in small classes, it's rare that all students open up and talk or have two-way dialog with the teacher or their classmates. There are ways to structure communication and interaction that benefit the instructor and student. Lecturing and Active Learning TechniquesActive learning is a "time out" moment during lecture. It allows your students to engage mentally in material being presented. Research shows that active learning improves students' retention of material, and it improves assessment outcomes. A lot of active learning techniques take less than a few minutes. Read more about active learning. Guiding the Learning ProcessPart of the problem in large classes is that the students feel a sense of isolation and lack of direction. But, What if you could communicate clearly and directly to all students? By using checklists and rubrics, you could guide your students through required learning activities. Read more about guiding the learning process. Teacher ImmediacyYou think you have to be an actor or a stand-up comic to get students' attention in a large class? Not true! Teacher immediacy may be understood as verbal and non-verbal behaviors which can reduce psychological distance and enhance connection and communication between you and your students. Your use of immediacy behaviors can help students have a more positive attitude towards you and your course, and have a significant positive impact on their learning. These include using such behaviors as eye contact, head nods, smiles and other facial expressions, as well as gestures, movements, and variety in your vocal tone. Read the article on teacher immediacy. Group Work and CollaborationGroup work and collaboration are quite possible in large classes. There are currently some popular models for large class group collaboration. Read more about group work and collaboration. Communication in an Online Class (Such as WebCT Vista)Communication in WebCT Vista can extend and enhance discussions outside of the physical of the classroom. The following links were selected based on teaching strategies to enhance communication and interaction in online environments.
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