Do you want your students to look up from their phones and engage with one another in your classes? If so, check out this episode with Dr. Sarah Montgomery, Administrative Fellow in the Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning and Professor of Education at the University of Northern Iowa.
Last spring semester Sarah overheard students sharing in her Honors Capstone class that they don’t talk to one another in their other classes. They said they showed up to class, got on their phones, did what they needed to do for class and left - never once interacting with a peer. Sound familiar?
In this episode Sarah shares how she investigated this trend, how it connects to current research, and how we can support students building peer-to-peer connections in our classes to fuel their academic engagement.
This podcast provides specific ideas for how to help students connect with one another in class at a time when national data is showing that incoming first-year students are seeking support with building peer-to-peer connections and that social connection impacts student success and retention.
A big thanks to the UNI John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (UNI JPEC) and especially Patrick Luensmann, Associate Director of JPEC for letting us use their brand new podcasting studio for Teaching in 10! A continued shout out of gratitude to Anton Reiter, Learning Spaces Specialist for his ongoing support with the podcast! Thank you!
Resources mentioned in the Podcast:
Sentipensante (Sensing/Thinking) Pedagogy: Educating for Wholeness, Social Justice, and Liberation by Laura Rendón
Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek Murthy
Example Connection Questions
-What brings you joy?
-What is one good thing (in your life, day, etc)?
-What is something you are looking forward to?
-What are you grateful for?
-Who is on your team? Who supports and encourages you?
-Share a photo that brings you joy with a peer.
For more ideas about creating peer-to-peer connections in your classes check out the Teaching in 10 episode “Social and Emotional Learning in the College Classroom” with Dr. Leigh Zeitz