141: How to Create Active, Engaging, and Playful Learning Environments

In episode 156 of the Lecture Breakers podcast, Dr. Barbi Honeycutt shares different ways you can use timelines to break up your lectures. Timelines can be used to help students organize information, enhance critical thinking skills, and assess learning. Learn the 7 benefits of using timelines as an active learning strategy and why you might want to use timelines in your lessons. Get 20+ creative ways to use timelines in your course.  Get the show notes: https://barbihoneycutt.com/LB156

In episode 155 of the Lecture Breakers podcast, I’m excited to welcome Colin May to the show! Colin is here to discuss how you can use scenarios and case studies in your course to make learning real, practical, and relevant. Scenarios and cases are great ways to bring the course material to life for your students, leverage their experience, encourage critical thinking, and promote problem solving. Colin shares his scenario development roadmap which will help you create interesting scenarios and organize the learning experience so your students can achieve the learning outcomes. You can get a free copy of the framework in the show notes at lecturebreakers.com. Get the show notes: https://barbihoneycutt.com/LB155

In episode 153 of the Lecture Breakers podcast, Stephanie Kratz joins us to discuss how she is transforming assessment and grading in her introductory and general education courses. She wants to focus on students’ learning, not just a number or letter grade. But what does this look like? How does it work? Stephanie takes us into her journey using alternative assessments inspired by the grading for growth movement. She shares what works, what doesn’t work, and what she’s still thinking about as she continues to redefine what assessment looks like and what learning means in her courses.  Get the show notes:  https://barbihoneycutt.com/LB153

In this bonus episode, you'll get an inside look at the 2024 Lecture Breakers Virtual Summer Conference! Who are the speakers? What are the live video session topics? What's the private podcast and who are the featured guests? Learn more and register today! LectureBreakersConference.com Get the Show Notes: https://barbihoneycutt.com/LB154

In episode 152, our guest is Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek. She conducts interviews with experts, turns those conversations into a podcast, and then integrates the podcast into her courses in some very creative ways so she can bring "real world" conversations into the classroom. She has found a way to break up lectures and combine active learning experiences with podcasts which has increased student engagement and curiosity.  Be sure to check out the show notes for Adrienne's free learning packets in case you want to integrate any of her podcast episodes into your course.  Get the show notes: https://barbihoneycutt.com/LB152

In episode 151 of the Lecture Breakers podcast, Dr. Samantha Scripture gives us a glimpse inside one of her graduate courses where she is using alternative grading approaches known as "grading for growth." In this episode, Samantha shares what works, what hasn’t worked, what the challenges are, and where she is on this journey to move towards a different approach for assessing students’ learning. And, I especially enjoyed hearing how she scaffolds active learning within her lessons...a great approach to build trust, foster community, and increase engagement! Get the show notes: https://barbihoneycutt.com/LB151

In episode 150 of the Lecture Breakers podcast, I’m excited to welcome Dr. Joe Hoyle to the show. Joe has been teaching since 1971! It’s an honor to have him with us today as he shares a little about his journey and how he transformed his own lectures when he realized things just weren’t working the way he’d hoped. We also discuss his new book Transformative Education: How Can You Become a Better College Teacher? Joe’s commitment to being both a teacher and a lifelong learner has influenced generations of students. And now he’s sharing his life’s work with college professors so his influence will continue.  Get the book and show notes: https://barbihoneycutt.com/LB150

In episode 149 of the Lecture Breakers podcast, Dr. Micheal Strawser shares his journey moving from the more traditional lecture model to thinking about his lectures as workshops and coaching sessions. In the first part of our conversation, Micheal focuses on his experience and what shifted his approach to teaching. In the second part, he takes us inside two of his courses and digs into how he has created authentic, real-world assignments and assessments. Get the show notes: https://barbihoneycutt.com/LB149

In episode 148 of the Lecture Breakers podcast, Dr. Barbi Honeycutt explains how to use a Tic Tac Toe Bingo game to engage students and assess learning. This is a fun activity that can be adapted to any size class. It allows students to work together, encourages students to assess their learning, and helps you determine where students need additional resources and support. Get your free download: barbihoneycutt.com/bingo Get the show notes: https://barbihoneycutt.com/LB148

In episode 147 of the Lecture Breakers podcast, Dr. Barbi Honeycutt explains how you can use the gallery walk as an active learning strategy to engage students and improve learning. The gallery walk combines physical movement, small group discussions, and activities that encourage students to solve problems, share ideas, and think creatively and critically about the course material.  Get your free download for this episode: barbihoneycutt.com/gallerywalk Get the show notes: https://barbihoneycutt.com/LB147