Promising Practices

When I first started out as an AI, I would spend days preparing a lecture for my “Introduction to Sociology” class. I would have pages and pages of concepts, detailed examples, and numerous tables for each class. It was too much. I was excited about the material, but found myself rushing in an attempt to squeeze it all in. In doing so, I was providing all the examples, making all the connections, and dominating the entire class time. This took the onus for learning off of students and placed it solely on my shoulders. I was overworked and stressed.

Then I discovered that less is more. I still cover the same number of concepts, but now I build in ample time each lecture for class participation – this means I get to say less (but still have to be fully versed in the concepts) and get to actually hear how and whether students are making sense of the material. I’m amazed by how much I have learned by listening to students. And I feel certain that students learn more when they are active participants. By sharing their own experiences and ideas and listening to their peers’, the concepts come alive. The students have taken the class down paths I never would have imagined traveling. We are all wiser for it.

Sinikka Elliott is an assistant instructor and a PhD candidate in the Department of Sociology. She was recently nominated by her department for the Livingston award for graduate student instructors.