Using Groups for Big Classes

Tips

Althaus(1997) and Meyers(1997) revealed that students who regularly communicate each others (e.g., via email, student-organized chatrooms, face-to-face contact) not only enjoyed these contacts, but had higher final grades in the class than distance learners who remained isolated (Hiltz, 1993; Kember, Lai, Murphy & Yuen, 1992; Wang & Newlin, 2000).

• Encourage students to get familiar with discussion boards to by posting questions and forming study groups

Related Resources

Althaus, S. L. (1997). Computer-mediated communication in the university classroom: An experiment with on-line discussions. Communication Education, 46, 158-174.

Meyers, S.A.(1997). Increasing student participation and productivity in small group activities for psychology classes. Teaching of psychology, 24, 105-115.

McKeachie, W.J. (1999). Teaching tips:Strategies, research and theory for college and university teachers(10^th ed.). Boston:Houghton-Mifflin.