Project Investigator(s): David Massaro, Lecturer, Pharmacy Practice
Project Description
Over the past year, I have incorporated an online learning platform (ie. Socrative Pro) to my large class lectures and used it to create a real-time “backchannel” for students to post their questions and comments during my lectures after which I input my responses and post them on Connect for post-lecture review. Although this approach has received considerable positive student feedback, I would like to determine whether it is in fact improving class engagement as well as improving my efficiency and effectiveness as an instructor.
Research Questions
1. Does the use of an online, real-time learning platform (ie. Socrative Pro) increase quality engagement among students during a large-class lecture?
2. Do students ask questions and make comments via this online platform that they would otherwise not vocalize during class due to social pressures associated
with speaking up over a large class?
3. Do students think this helps their learning and does it improve my efficiency and effectiveness as an instructor by identifying and resolving learning issues quickly?
Impact on teaching and learning at UBC
If my results are positive, I can continue teaching in this manner knowing that the impact is based on evidence and inquiry. I could then share my results with the rest of the faculty who may be interested in adding this learning platform to their teaching repertoire to improve their effectiveness and efficiency with respect to student inquiries over email. Furthermore, I can carry this data forward, using the student questions and comments to generate review sessions for topics that have generated the greatest challenges.