Portland Community College

CLASSROOM ACTIVITY CONTEST

During Winter Term 2006, the Classroom Activity Contest was held encouraging PCC faculty to submit strategies used in class to teach course material and facilitate student retention. There were a total of 89 entries submitted, spanning numerous disciplines. The winning submissions and the additional entries are included below for PCC faculty to use as a resource in teaching and further strengthening PCC's commitment to student success and retention.

Contest Winners

• Wendy Feuer
  • A Potluck of Words - using newly acquired skills to solidify the learning community.
• Marlene Howell
  • Teaching world economics and politics by engaging students in role playing.
• Bryan Hull
  • Free write topics are shared in class to engage students in vocal participation who might not otherwise be inclined.
• Miriam Kloster
  • Fact vs. Fiction - teaching chemistry by researching urban legends.
• Siobhan McConnell
  • Learning by Doing - building model buildings to learn about structure design.
• Sherri Prodani
  • Incorporating a jazz chant to teach ESL students.
• Levi Query
  • Thinking out of your comfort zone - activities that force students to argue points of view in order to understand the topic.
• Lee Ann Redifer
  • Earn Your Way Out - using knowledge to let students out of class at the end of the period.
• Jane Rognlie
  • Using Library Databases - to enhance classroom learning.
• Kim Smith
  • Global village exercise to explain social stratification.

Additional Classroom Activity Submissions

Welcome/Introductions
These classroom activities are designed for instructors/classmates to get to know one another.

Course Development and Assessment
These strategies are designed to aide in course development, assessment, and grading.

Discussion
These classroom activities are designed for instructors/students to engage in conversation/discussion.

Diversity/Culture
These classroom activities address the various ways diversity, culture and identity can enrich courses.

Group Activities
These classroom activities are designed to encourage students working in teams or groups.

Instructor/Student Relationship
These strategies are used to develop stronger relationships between instructors and students.

Material Retention
These strategies are used to help student learn course concepts and material.

Real World
These classroom activities are designed to have students experience course material in a real-life context.

Research
These classroom activities are designed for courses requiring student research.

Simulation
These classroom activities are designed to simulate course concepts.

Student Teaching
These classroom activities require students teach course concepts to one another.

Study Skills
These strategies are used to introduce students to useful study habits.

Technology/Video
These classroom activities are designed for instructors interested in using technology in the classroom.

Written Assignments

These classroom activities and strategies are designed for written course assignments.