Course selection
Small Group Teaching: Student Engagement through Interactive Teaching
Audience: Academic staff, Research staff, Research supervisors
Date: Wednesday 5 March 2025
Times: 14.00 to 16.00
Programme: Academic Staff Development Programme
Target audience
Open to all academic staff and contract research staff.
Course information
Small group teaching and discussion fulfils several important goals of higher education and is an important vehicle for learning. This interactive workshop aims to help participants develop their confidence when leading small groups and to provide advice when planning a small group teaching session.
Topics that will be covered include:
- The purpose of group discussions
- General characteristics of active learning
- Approaches to small group teaching including methods used in the Arts and Science Faculties
- The attributes of effective and stimulating small group teaching
- How to use questions effectively.
What participants have said about a previous version of this course:
- Very efficient course with tailored to deliver the best of small group teaching to your students!
- Good tips on providing small group teaching and overcoming the challenges that entails.
- The speakers were very good. I loved that the workshop gave very practical examples on how to improve the engagement in small group classes. I tried some of the suggestions on the next day and had the best tutorial class at the University of St Andrews, so thank you
Aims and objectives
By the end of the workshop, participants will:
- Understand the characteristics of active learning and purpose of small group teaching and discussions
- Be aware of the different approaches to small group teaching methods in various Faculties
- Understand the attributes of effective small group teaching, and tips on how to deal with various scenarios that may arise
Tutors
Dr Konrad Lawson
Dr Evelyn Watson
Venue
TBC