COSAM News Articles 2022 October Monthly MoSI Learning Community shares teaching strategies and builds academic support

Monthly MoSI Learning Community shares teaching strategies and builds academic support

Published: 10/11/2022

Each month, the College of Sciences and Mathematics, or COSAM, offers an engaging opportunity to discuss teaching strategies and learn from each other.

The Mobile Summer Institute, or MoSI, Learning Community Lunch helps to improve teaching and encourage discussion among faculty, graduate teaching assistants, postdoctoral fellows and staff.

MoSI Learning Community on October 4, 2022

Rachel Prado and Karen McNeal welcomed guests to the event that includes networking, lunch, an academic tidbit, and questions and answer time.

“It is rewarding to hear great discussion during the event and collectively learn on a specific topic,” said Prado.

Heather Haskell, a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, has taught at the high school, two-year college and at the university level. She shared her expertise at the Oct. 4 luncheon.

“Students in the university setting need active learning,” Haskell said.

Haskell shared a tidbit on Distributions of Binomial Random Variables.

She asked questions using cards from Plickers that helps students participate more in a smaller classroom setting.

Haskell asked the group, “Why do we have a majority choosing one side?”

Participants were able to hold up cards while Haskell scanned the room with her phone. She then could instantly display the results.

Haskell also shared strategies to help students learn more in the classroom.

She explained how she lets the students calculate the answer individually and then shows the solution to the problem. Then, she gives the students a chance to discuss the solution together in their teams.

“The teaching demonstration gives younger faculty and those who are just beginning to teach insight into techniques that faculty are using to help students excel,” said McNeal.

Haskell gave examples of binomial distribution and created Bernoulli Trials with the group during the session.

“Heather was able to show that you can write on the slides with the cutting-edge technology in the new Academic Classrooms and Laboratory Complex, which really elevates the student learning experience at Auburn University,” said Prado. “She also shared how she can increase active learning by using tools to help students learn.”