CTL to hold mini-conference on active learning classrooms

Award-winning educator Bob Beichner from N.C. State University will be the guest speaker for the Center for Teaching and Learning’s “Midday Mini-conference: Active Learning Classrooms” scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, April 8, in the Student Union, Room 340 A and B.

Online registration has started for this event, which will address questions such as “Why is active learning such an effective means of instructional practice?” and “What is the value of learning for all students in such an environment?”

Beichner is the chief architect of the SCALE-UP model at N.C. State University. He recently received the McGraw Prize in Education, an annual honor that recognizes educational innovation. SCALE-UP, funded in part by the U.S. Department of Education, established a highly collaborative, hands-on, computer-rich, interactive learning environment for large-enrollment courses.

UNC Charlotte’s active learning classrooms in the Kennedy Building are modeled on Beichner’s research.

“Faculty who are using our active learning classrooms appreciate how the spaces focus on students and how they want to learn,” said Kurt Richter, CTL instructional technologist. “As part of our mini-conference, there will be a poster session in which some of our Active Learning Academy instructors will share success stories in how they used one of our active learning labs to move beyond the traditional lecture/test instructional model.”

Instructors who attend this poster session will receive priority consideration for use of four new active learning classrooms that are expected to be available in fall 2016.

The Office of the Provost, Office of Classroom Support and Atkins Library are collaborating with CTL to hold the April 8 mini-conference.