Instructional Strategies
At OSU Center for Health Sciences, we believe that an engaged classroom is the foundation of meaningful learning. When students are actively involved, their understanding deepens—and so does their enthusiasm. That’s why we support faculty in exploring fresh, evidence-based instructional strategies that not only enhance student outcomes but also reinvigorate the teaching experience itself. Faculty who regularly refine their teaching practices often discover renewed energy and higher satisfaction in the classroom. Whether you're looking to try a new approach or refine a familiar one, our highly skilled OED team is here to help. With deep expertise and a genuine commitment to your success, we collaborate with instructors to create dynamic, learner-centered environments where both students and educators thrive.
Formative Assessment -
What is Formative Assessment?
Formative assessment refers to instructional methods used to assess student understanding. These strategies are used to inform both the teacher and the learner. The teacher uses this information to address student misconceptions, and students use it to help them guide their learning. The key to formative assessment is that it happens during the learning process. Examples include quizzes, think-pair-share, class discussions, application exercises, quick polls, and more.
Resources
- Formative Assessment: An Overview [Video]
- Guide to Formative Assessment [Infographic]
- Formative Assessment for Clerkships and Residents
- Formative Assessment for the Large Lecture Hall and Small Groups
Tools
Flipped Classroom -
Why Flip your Classroom?
Have you ever wanted to go deeper with a topic in the classroom, but felt like you were limited on time? Ever bothered by the fact that there's too much content to cover, and you have little time left to make your classroom activities engaging? You should consider a flipped classroom approach! By flipping the classroom you can make students responsible for the content before attending class, and then you have time to implement active learning strategies like team-based learning and case presentations.
Resources
Tools
- Use Panopto recordings (to embed questions into the video for added engagement)
- Use student-paced Nearpod lessons (add audio to each slide)
- Use Leo to post content, readings, videos, web links, discussions, quizzes, etc.
- Articulate 360- Work with an Instructional Designer to develop online learning modules for your content!
Small Groups -
Why use Small Groups?
Small group learning promotes deeper learning of course material, helps students to identify and clarify concepts they do not fully understand, promotes the development of self-directed learning and self-reflection, and encourages students to "work collegially and acquire skills that are essential to the medical specialist." 1
Whether you want to incorporate team-based learning, problem-based learning, case-based learning, or informal group discussion into your teaching, the Office of Educational Development can support you! Contact us so that we can set up a time to introduce you to these topics and help you plan and implement these teaching methods in your course.
Resources
Team-Based Learning
Case-Based Learning
Best Practices
- Assessing Small Groups
- Active Learning in Foundational Courses
- Teaching with Small Groups with Large Class Sizes
- Teaching with Small Groups (Journal Article)
1 Jones, R. W. (2007). Learning and teaching in small groups: characteristics, benefits, problems and approaches. Anesthesia & Intensive Care, 35(4), 587-592.
More Strategies and Tips -
- Using Rubrics (webinar | slideshow)
- Writing and Mapping Learning Objectives (slideshow)
- Interpreting Exam Statistics (slideshow)
- Bloom's Taxonomy