Strategies and Techniques
Jan Anderson
3X5 Cards for In-Class Discussion
Purpose:
To learn student names, find out what knowledge and experience they have
in a subject area, and to encourage the entire class to listen and be prepared
to answer questions at any moment.
Materials:
3x5 Cards
Procedure:
Students are to complete the following information
on each card: name, background, experience, any information that may help
you get to know student's better and better meet their learning needs-fears
about the subject, what the student wants to get out of this course, and
any other important information. You can determine what you want the student's
to include, based on your course and your interests and needs. I make an
overhead with what I would like student's to include to make it easier and
more efficient for them to complete the cards. I do this at the first class
and bring the cards to every class for use.
These cards are used to call on students, so all students get the chance
to contribute in class discussions and question and answer times. The cards
need to be shuffled so the names are called in a random way. Using these
cards helps to increase tension in the room, so everyone has to listen.
The cards can also help you gauge where the class is in experience and knowledge
and how best to meet some of those needs. The cards help the instructor
learn student's names more quickly also.
These cards also offer a nonthreatening way for students to communicate
some important thoughts, concerns and learning needs to you.
Examples:
Some of the information I have gotten from
the cards has been very valuable. Students have written they need to sit
up front because they can't hear or see, they are afraid of working with
certain kinds of patients, need to take exams at DSPS, want to be sure they
learn something in particular from the class.
Resources, Tips and References:
Laura Welby-Cooperative Learning Grant
The multiple faculty on campus who have attended the Cooperative Grant workshops
and semester-long experiences.
The multiple newsletters, books and internet resources available both on
and off campus on Cooperative Learning.