Using Clickers to Teach Biology-Based Material in a Developmental Psychology Class

This talk will describe a study designed to assess if clicker technology during a lesson can improve learning relative to traditional lecture alone. A control group was exposed to the stages of prenatal development via traditional lecture, and an experimental group was exposed to the material via an exercise that used clickers. A pretest showed no difference before the intervention. A posttest showed that the clicker group had significant gains indicating clickers may facilitate learning of science-based material.

Pedagogical Aspects of Using Mobile Devices in the Biology Classroom

The ubiquity and power of personal digital devices make them attractive tools for STEM instructors who would like to stimulate active learning. These devices offer both abundant pedagogical opportunities and worrisome challenges. We will discuss our two years of experience in using mobile devices to teach biology in a community college setting, as well as our observations on the best ways to organize digital-based activities to facilitate student active learning.

Game-based Learning (Interactive Demo)

What does the lesson “Finding Citations,” the game “Trivial Pursuit,” and the mechanic “Bluffing” all have in common? In this bootcamp brainstorm facilitated by a CUNY professor, attendees are broken up into design teams whose job it is to enhance a traditional lesson with the mechanics of popular board games in only 20 minutes. Whether you have to teach the rules of citation or the rules of interviewing, there is usually a game plan that can help. This game teaches you how to integrate educational games into your classroom, while providing a fun introduction to the principles of game-based learning.

Welding Equipment at the New York Trade School

Pictured is a P & H A.C. Arc Welder that would have been used to teach students in the Welding Department at the New York Trade School. Black and white photograph.