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FSHD 50: The Family and Social Issues

Innovative, Novel, Unconventional

Reflection on Instructional Change using Evidence-Based Lecture Alternatives:

I decided to pursue an alternative activity in this course that moved away from conventions such as lecture and exam. I had students take a more involved role in the class, such as participating in a podcast-style discussion between me and a small group of students. Students were asked questions related to the subject matter discussed on that day. The class covers topics such as marriage, dating, and work-life balance. Students naturally had differences of opinion to share, and I was able to facilitate this discussion by showcasing empirical literature to support or challenge students' perspectives.

This class meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Fridays became days when we experimented with these alternative lecture strategies. On these days, I would also get students into groups so they could generate about three to five questions on what was covered earlier in the week. Students would then share those questions with me, and I would use a portion of those questions on future exams. Students could take ownership of their assessment, and I felt a sense of student engagement through these group discussions. Students shared publicly that they support this new technique to generate exam questions because they kept thinking of new questions even after class, a practice that, as one student shared, they had never done in prior courses.

I think this course helps students realize that, as students, they do not have to rely on the instructor to take the lead in their learning. While there is a lot of independent studying that occurs outside the classroom, students also crave independent study (and play) within the classroom, even in the presence of their classmates/groups.

**Evidence of Instructional Change**
Podcast Fridays	Crowdsource Fridays
Podcast Style Fridays to push the boundaries of the conventional lecture format	Students work together on Fridays to generate questions from the content that was covered earlier in the week.

Pre and Post

Pre FLC

35%-40% attendance rate

Post FLC

63%-72% attendance rate

**Faculty Bio**
Faculty Picture	Bio
	I am an associate professor of family studies and human development in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at Sacramento State University. My scholarly interests center on issues of fatherhood, parenting, and evolutionary development. My teaching philosophy is grounded on the belief that the information my students learn will benefit both their personal and professional development. I teach courses such as The Child in the Family, Adolescent Development, Issues in Parenting, and Family and Social Issues.

STEM4Equity: US Dept. of Education STEMHSI P031C210012
*Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Sacramento State.