Donna Qualters, associate professor, Suffolk University

Donna Qualters is director of the Center for Teaching Excellence and associate professor of Educatio[more]n at Suffolk University in Boston. Donna has been involved in teaching/learning at Northeastern University, MIT, UMass Medical School, and Endicott College. She has published and presented in the areas of assessment, teaching/learning, teacher identity/change, reflective practice and interdisciplinary ethical inquiry. Her book, Jonas Chalk, is an innovative interdisciplinary approach to changing teaching culture. Donna has been honored by the Professional Organization and Development Network in higher education (POD) and is vice chair of the Massachusetts American Council of Education Women Leaders in Higher Education.

Website: Click here

While the literature on active learning demonstrates positive results, adopting this model of pedagogy can raise student and faculty concerns around the purpose of classroom time, student involvement in their own learning, and the value of peers in the learning process. This presentation will highlight the results of a study that explored student reactions to one department changing its pedagogy from teacher-centered to a more active, student-engaged model. The presenter will share the active learning methods, study design, results, and lessons learned.

Keywords: active learning, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, student engagement