collaborative learning

Developing a Substantive Understanding of the Concepts of Normality and Pathology

by David Gard, Psychology Diagnosis is mistakenly perceived as a tool to separate our (normal) behavior from their (abnormal) behavior. Thus, without careful consideration of how diagnostic categories help and hinder our understanding of being human, it is easy to slip into a tautological position: a behavior is abnormal if it falls within a mental disorder diagnostic category. I tried a number of strategies to underscore the fuzzy boundaries between normalcy and abnormality.

Monstrous Texts: Overcoming Resistance to Literature

by Mai-Lin Cheng, English By juxtaposing classic literature with contemporary literature, film, and television, I hoped to help students connect with the literature in specific, personal ways that would help them become rigorous readers. Rigorous readers, in turn, develop into strong writers.

Musical Form and Active Learning

by Laura Basini, Music I wanted to bring a seemingly abstract concept to life by placing students in an unfamiliar position: that of the composer. They would have to engage more actively with each passage of music, working out what each did in musical terms, and how each led to and from its neighbors.

TALC: Individualized Assistance through Collaborative Learning

by John Johnson, Astronomy As the Head GSI for Astronomy 10 last fall, I was challenged with administering effective, individualized assistance to the students who needed it most. The solution I developed is The Astronomy Learning Center (TALC). TALC uses collaborative learning as an alternative to traditional office hours...[and] uses the philosophy that students learn better by doing than just by hearing or seeing.

Research Methods Applied to Public Health Topics: Using Breakout Groups to Foster Problem Solving and Critical Thinking

by Alexandra Minnis and Jennifer Bensadoun, Epidemiology With large sections and students who represent backgrounds as distinct as laboratory-based infectious disease, public policy, and social and behavioral health, engaging students in exploring the epidemiological methods and in stimulating discussions of course material proved to be a challenge.

Understanding the Lives of Ancient Egyptians

by Deanna Kiser, Near Eastern Studies The daily activities and concerns of the earlier society's participants are lost on modern people, who view the entire culture as dead. This affects new students to the field in particular... I have found that helping Egyptology students to identify with the ancient Egyptians generates more enthusiasm for the subject matter and makes it meaningful to them.

Cultural and Communicative Approaches to Teaching Music

by Mathew Gelbart, Music I feel strongly that a course of this nature should not give musically experienced students an unfair advantage, especially since it is nominally geared toward those with little to no musical background. I want the less experienced students to come away not with an inferiority complex, but rather, with a new interest in some exciting music.