Creating instructor presence in a room with 300+ students can be a challenge. However, actively engaging students in large lectures halls is possible and now innovations in technology have made it easier than before. This session will explore some technologies that enable instructors to be mobile in the classroom.
According to Fred Jones, writer of Tools for Teaching, Discipline, Instruction, Motivation, “the most basic technique for managing the behavior of a group is called "working the crowd." Natural teachers instinctively work the crowd. They use proximity as an instrument of management. They know that either you work the crowd, or the crowd works you (p. 52).”
This presentation will share best practices, specifications, and pricing information for four different approaches that have been used at Michigan State University to enable instructor mobility in the classroom. These approaches vary in price range, flexibility, latency, and range. The discussion will address: advantages and disadvantages of these approaches, requirements for implementation, and questions surrounding their usage in the classroom. Additionally, the presentation will model the use these technologies in the classroom and offer the opportunity to share your own solutions and ask questions about our use cases. Participants will also receive links to videos, documentation
The concept of instructor proximity in the classroom is not a new concept. Teachers are taught how to use their voice, tone, vocal inflection, position in the classroom, and body language to communicate their investment in the learning process, thus inviting students to be more engaged in the learning process However, training on how to use technologies that can enhance their classroom communications is less common. In higher learning, instructors do not always have access to the same type of training before they have to engage with students in classroom. Furthermore, certain classroom spaces present certain challenges to engaging with students directly. Come discuss not only the solutions we’ve found, but also share what has worked in your own teaching and design.