Faculty Development

  • get up to speed

Get Up to Speed with Active Learning

We designed this self-paced, asynchronous program to support faculty who want to incorporate active learning strategies into their teaching. It provides guidance, resources, and support for planning and implementing specific active learning strategies. This course is designed for faculty who are new to active learning as well as experienced faculty who want to deepen their knowledge and learn new strategies.


 


When is it?

This self-paced, ongoing program is available now. Complete this registration form to sign up. 

Who should enroll?

The course will be helpful to all CSUN instructors who want to incorporate active learning into their teaching, but it can be especially helpful for those who will be teaching in Maple Hall (the newest building on campus, which is designed to encourage the use of active learning). 

Preference for Self-Paced: This program is ideal for faculty who don’t want to commit to specific meeting times and enjoy learning independently & asynchronously through reading. You can go at your own pace and even skip around to content and move back among the modules for review.  

What are the program goals & objectives?

The course is designed to take about 5 hours to complete, including reflective activities in each module. 

Program Goal

This course will prepare faculty for success with active learning by building foundational knowledge about active learning and how it impacts the teaching and learning experience. By providing guidance, resources, and support for planning and implementing specific active learning strategies, the course promotes practical ways to advance equity in the classroom. This is a flexible program, so it is up to you if you want to go through the self-paced material in order, do the activities to earn the certificate, or just pick and choose what you engage in.

Here is a summary of what is covered:

  • Prepping Your Active Learning Course: 

    • Learn the basics of active learning, why it is beneficial for students, how it is an equity-based practice, and tips for how to integrate it into your course plans.

  • Creating Your Active Learning Course:

    • Explore active learning techniques and strategies. Topics include how to update lectures to incorporate active learning, warm-up activities, planning and facilitating discussions, using technology and furniture to promote active learning, and assessment strategies.

  • Facilitating Your Active Learning Course:

    • Access a facilitation guide for each active learning strategy mentioned in the course, which describes the details and logistics for implementation. 

Program Objectives

By the end of the program, faculty will be able to:

  1. Explain how active learning can benefit every student

  2. Discuss how using active learning is connected to equity-minded teaching 

  3. Describe how you will use class time to engage students 

  4. Plan active learning activities for your class sessions 

  5. Modify learning spaces to foster active learning 

  6. Manage time, content and student voices during active learning 

  7. Discuss how you will communicate the value of active learning to students to motivate their engagement and promote an equitable environment

  8. Create an environment that is collaborative, inclusive and supportive of peer-to-peer learning 

How do I sign up?

This self-paced, ongoing program is available now. Complete this registration form to sign up.