Teaching Large-Format Classes
CSC: New Faculty Workshop
Milagros Delgado and Rory Waterman
(with input from past and present mentors)
American Chemical Society
Savannah, GA
October 18-19, 2019
While you are getting settled:
Please Download the CAPERCard App to your smartphone or iPad
Teaching a large-format class
How do you engage a big class?
… and stick to it!
Develop a style that suits your personality
Know the basics
Practice handwriting, color schemes,
and technology in advance
Get them talking the first day
• Split discussion on syllabus
between two classes and use
discussion board
• Run an activity the first day
• One paper per group of three,
if large lecture hall
• Have students make predictions
• Discuss as a group
https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/chemistry
https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/chemistry
Practice with Clickers
The largest class I expect to teach or I am teaching will
have:
A. < 25 students
B. 25 to 50 students
C. 50 to 150 students
D. >150 students
E. I don’t know
Get to know the class: the “Why are you here?”
question
What is the primary reason that you are taking Organic Chemistry?
A. I am taking this as a pre-med requirement.
B. I am taking this as a pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, pre-vet, pre-nursing, or other pre-professional requirement that is not pre-med.
C. I am not a pre-med, but this is a requirement for my non-chemistry major.
D. I am a chemistry major.
E. Organic Chemistry isn’t a requirement for me. I’m taking it as an elective, just for fun.
Get to know the class: the “ Who do you
know in class?” question
• First semester of general chemistry:
• How many students did you know in class the first
day?
• A. none b. 1-3 c) 4-6 d) more
Get to know the class: the “ Who do you
know in class?” question• First semester of general chemistry:
• How many students do you know in class at the end
of the semester?
• A. none b. 1-5 c) 6-10
• d) more than 10
Clicker Question: “Transesterification”
If an ester undergoes acid-catalyzed transesterification in 18O-labelled ethanol,
where does the 18O label end up?
A.
B.
C.
CLICKER QUESTION: Chemical equivalence
How many chemically distinct protons are present in
cyclohexanol?
a. Four
b. Five
c. Seven
d. Eight
e. Twelve
1H NMR of Cyclohexanol
13C NMR of Cyclohexanol
Office hours/discussion sections
Show students that you care about the content and them!
Connecting with students
Before/after class time
Reading materials and literature
Use your resources!
Colleagues and peers
Your school’s teaching
and learning center(s)
Let’s continue the discussion!
Other concerns about large classes?
Room layout
Consistency
Dealing with email/
contact hours
Diversity
Problem students as a
% of total class
Sarcasm,
attitude, disruption
Teaching evaluations
Room/exam logistics
Rescheduling
class/examsLearning community/center
Time commitment
Online homework
Teaching assistants, Learning Assistants
Student buy-in
