Pogil - Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning

Large Class POGIL

Radical Change in Large-Class Instruction

The highly innovative, Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning method is poised to make a sizable leap toward the Project's long-term goal of affecting radical change in science instruction. While the method has been shown to increase conceptual learning and student satisfaction in small chemistry classes, POGIL Must make a leap toward lasting change by expanding into other disciplines. We believe that to further this goal, POGIL must be applied successfully to large classrooms. Adaptation of the POGIL process to the large class setting requires development and testing of new materials and facilitation techniques. Important among these techniques is the use of classroom response devices, clickers.

The use of clickers in a POGIL classroom is critical for large class implementation, but we have found that the techniques we have been developing, such as use of a clicker presentation dovetailed with a paper-and-pencil Chem Activity), is useful to control pace and track progress in any size classroom. Though we believe affecting change in organic chemistry is an important goal in its own right; the systems, techniques, and technologies established by this project will be directly and immediately applicable to the growing number of disciplines being taught using the POGIL methodology.

We have tested POGIL with clickers in large classes at the College of Charleston, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the University of Washington in classes sized 100 to 400 students. Studeies are currently underway at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Washington using common exams with a focus on tracking longitudinal retention and the Metacognitive Activities Inventory (Cooper, Chem. Educ. Res. Pract., 2008.).

Principal Investigators:

Andrei Straumanis (University of Washington)
Suzanne Ruder (Virginia Commonwealth University)

This project is funded under the United States Department of Education grant FIPSE-P116B060026.