Introduction to Peer Instruction
Video 4.1.1 — Introduction to Peer Instruction
Dr. Bennett Goldberg from Boston University Introduces the concept of peer instruction.
Video 4.1.2 — History of Peer Instruction
Dr. Bennett Goldberg introduces Dr. Eric Mazur from Harvard University who tells the story of how peer instruction came to be.
Discussion: Discuss your most memorable Peer Instruction experience below.
Observation Assignment
Video 4.2.1 — Peer Instruction Observation Assignment
Dr. Bennett Goldberg sets the stage for several examples of peer instruction happening in the classroom. He challenges viewers to take notes on their observations about peer instruction.
Video 4.2.2 — Eric Mazur’s AP50 Class
This video is an example of how peer instruction works in Dr. Eric Mazur’s AP50 classroom.
Video 4.2.3 — Bennett Goldberg’s Introductory Physics Studio Class
This video is an example of how peer instruction works in Dr. Bennett Goldberg’s physics studio classroom.
Video 4.2.4 — Jenny Knight’s Biology Class
This video is an example of how peer instruction works in Dr. Jenny Knitght’s biology classroom.
Discussion: Discuss the conceptual goals of Peer Instruction below. From either the perspective of the student or the instructor, describe the value of peer engagement for the learning process.
Implementing Peer Instruction
Video 4.3.1 — Practicalities of Implementation
Dr. Eric Mazur discusses the practicalities of implementing peer instruction in your classroom. He provides examples of effective and ineffective practices when implementing peer instruction.
Video 4.3.2 — Motivating Students
Dr. Eric Mazur provides an explanation of why motivating students to learn is important in peer instruction and provides several examples of how you can do this effectively.
Video 4.3.3 — How Questioning Works
Dr. Eric Mazur explains why asking questions of your students during a lecture is important in a peer instruction based classroom. He also gives examples of how he asks these questions in his classrooms.
Video 4.3.4 — The Best Kinds of Questions
Dr. Eric Mazur outlines what the most effective and engaging questions professors can ask students while instructing students in a peer instruction based classroom.
Discussion: Next, you’re going to try designing your own clicker question. For more tips on writing good clicker questions, please read “Writing Good Clicker Questions” by Stephanie Chasteen at UC Boulder.
Write a clicker question specific to your discipline. Design the question so that it fulfills some of the goals listed in the handout that you just read (no clicker question fulfills ALL the goals).
Peer Instruction in Your Classroom
Video 4.4.1 — Implementing Peer Instruction in Your Classroom
Dr. Bennett Goldberg introduces Dr. Peter Newbury from the University of California San Diego. Dr. Newbury discusses the advantages, challenges and limitations of implementing peer instruction in your classroom.
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An introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM Teaching
