Mentoring for Large Classes

Mentoring for Active Learning in Large Classes: See It in Action, Make It Work for You

Curious about active or group learning but unsure how to make it work with 80, 100, or even 440 students?

The CLT now offers instructional mentoring with Sarah Marcus, a CLT Instructional Fellow who successfully incorporates active group learning into BIO 113, one of the largest courses on campus. You'll observe real-time strategies—including structured group problem-solving and group project-based activities—in the university’s largest lecture hall.

In BIO 113, students routinely work in permanent groups to solve problems, take quizzes, peer review and revise each other's work. They also submit their answers in a variety of different modalities that keep students motivated and engaged without adding to the grading burden.

So you’ll discuss the practical logistics of facilitating group work at scale: how to structure activities, manage time, encourage participation, and adapt these techniques for your own course. Whether you're new to active learning or seeking new ideas, this mentoring experience will help you make group learning for students doable, scalable, and impactful.

Instructors in interested departments can take advantage of two mentoring options with Sarah: One-on-one mentoring: This involves 1–2 meetings focused on discussing strategies for incorporating active and group learning into your course. It’s ideal for instructors seeking targeted guidance or quick insights. To schedule, email Sarah directly at smarcus@binghamton.edu Engage@Scale: This is a semester-long, small-group series where we take a deep dive into pedagogy and objective--driven practical solutions for teaching large classes. Participants work collaboratively to design lectures or entire courses that incorporate active learning and group work. To join, fill out the registration form.