Peer Instruction
Peer instruction is an alternative to the traditional lecture an was invented by physics professor Eric Mazur at Harvard. You can read about how I use peer instruction here.
The "mechanics" of peer instruction is very simple:
1. Pose a (multiple choice) question to the class.
2.* The students vote on the answer using clickers or e-clickers. I use Socrative. Mazur advocates that students not be allowed to discuss before the first vote. I encourage students to discuss right away.
3. If the majority (roughly >75%) vote correctly, briefly explain the correct answer and move on to the next question
4. If 40-75% vote correctly, ask the student to find someone who has voted different than themselves and convince them that their right, then revote.
5. Of <40% answer the question correctly, give a detailed explanation of the problem and solution.
The advantages of peer instruction
* The students are doing something actively rather than sitting passively
* They have an easier time learning from their peers who are at the same "level"
* Good peer instruction questions focus on conceptual understanding, which is rarely addressed in homework
* The teacher gets valuable feedback on what the students know and don't know
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