3. Classroom design and active learning
The classroom in which you teach may influence how you teach. Traditional classrooms have often been designed to focus attention on the teacher, such that the front of the room, where the teacher stands, is the focal point (Park & Choi, 2014). In contrast, flexible classrooms with moveable tables and chairs are becoming more common in higher education, and are particularly well suited for active learning. Several studies have shown that students in active learning classrooms achieve better learning outcomes than students in traditional classrooms (Baepler et al., 2016).
Nonetheless, it is possible to use active learning in a lecture hall or other fixed design classroom. A number of strategies can be executed in a lecture hall and with larger enrollment classes. For example, think-pair-share, polling, peer instruction, minute papers (in which students briefly respond in writing to a question), and small group (e.g. 2-3 students) discussion or problem solving can all be used effectively in a classroom with fixed seating.