Fueling In-Class Discussion with Packback

December 19, 2019 Author: Read time: 2 min

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Dr. Alexander Storrs shares how he’s fueling in-class discussion with Packback

A core part of Dr. Alexander Storrs’ Cosmic Origins course is having students discuss the way science works and critically analyze why some ideas in astronomy are accepted over others. However, prior to using Packback, Dr. Storrs found that introverted students weren’t comfortable participating during class discussion. With Packback, Dr. Storrs says nearly 90 percent of students are now participating both on Packback and during in-class discussions.

“I only have, maybe, less than a 10 percent nonparticipation level,” says Dr. Storrs. “So I’m getting all of the class pretty much to participate in all of the discussions. Both face-to-face and online. I’m really enjoying using Packback.”

INSTITUTION

Towson University

DEPARTMENT

Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences

COURSE

Cosmic Origins

SIZE

30 Students

“For the last couple of decades, I’ve been teaching a course called Cosmic Origins where we are talking about the way science works and we try to pick apart ideas. We try to critically analyze things and see why these ideas are accepted over other ideas. And this involves a lot of classroom discussion, give and take. And it favors the extroverts, the way it is. And now, this is the first semester I’ve implemented Packback which allows the introverts to get a word in edgewise in these discussions. And the introverts, by and large, have risen to the occasion.”