When former students arrange their schedules semester after semester (until they graduate) so they can attend my organic chemistry classes for non-majors, they are still engaging in my course even after they have received their final grades. Using interactive technology both in the "traditional" lecture and the flipped class allows this extended engagement and accomplishes three goals. Firstly, many students engage in the material to such an extent that they  "own" the concepts and because their engagement is so engaging and interactive, they do not want to leave the class. Secondly, the interactive nature afforded by the technology allows these successful former students to come back to the classroom, but now their engagement is from a different vantage point - as volunteer teaching assistants.   Thirdly, as current students interact with these former students performing as teaching assistants, many petition to become a teaching assistant the next semester. 20 former students are needed for a flipped class (of 120 students) and as many as 8 former students can be used for a "traditional" lecture (of 250 students.)  This presentation will show how two different modes of instruction (the large lecture setting and the flipped class) can be structured so that former students not only want to come back to class, but also can be an integral part of the class.

It's not over until they graduate: Interactive classes keep students engaged even after the final exam

251st National Meeting (2016)

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