Susan Saurage-Altenloh, PhD

Lesson Plan

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In presenting this online lesson plan for virtual doctoral residency (topic development seminar) students, I created an engaging and collaborative learning experience that reflects my commitment to active student participation and peer-to-peer learning. The plan focuses on enhancing students' understanding of library resources while fostering critical thinking and community building in a virtual environment. By incorporating Quick Write and Pair-and-Share strategies, I encourage students to take an active role in their learning, posing questions, and exploring diverse perspectives with their peers. This approach aligns with my belief in creating dynamic and interactive sessions, where students actively contribute to their own learning process, share insights, and collectively deepen their understanding of the subject matter. Additionally, the plan highlights my dedication to continuously improving the learning experience based on student feedback, ensuring that it remains relevant and effective.

My teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that education within the realm of business should be a transformative journey, not just the mere transfer of facts and figures. It should nurture essential skills and cultivate a mindset that thrives on active engagement, critical thinking, and practical application.

Implementation Plan

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Each semester includes a one-hour synchronous “library resources” meeting for virtual doctoral residency students. In this session, 20 minutes are allocated for a librarian's presentation. Prior to that session, students are polled on library elements such as tools, seminal works, theories, instruments, and business databases to identify the most valuable topics to address. Results are then shared with the librarian to guide their presentation after which I implement the Quick Write and Pair-and-Share strategies with a focus on three fundamental principles: effective time management, clear and concise instructions, and the collection of valuable feedback from students post-activity to continually enhance the learning experience.

Technique Justification

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I purposefully implement Quick Write and Pair-Share strategies to foster peer-to-peer learning in a virtual context. This instructional approach, based on UbD principles, encourages active engagement throughout the session and enhances information retention. Both strategies are catalysts for critical thinking, enabling students to dissect and analyze complex questions on significant topics. Students individually summarize learning and gaps using Quick-Write. This is a strong kick-off for Pair-Share which encourages exploration of diverse perspectives, experiences, and insights among peers, cultivating a sense of community and interconnectedness.

Goal

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My primary goal is to equip students with practical skills and instill a growth mindset tailored for the dynamic business world. A recent graduate, armed with critical thinking skills honed in my class, took on the challenge of streamlining operational issues in a healthcare system. Their efforts led to a significant reduction in the cost of collection for the health system while simultaneously enhancing patient satisfaction. This real-world achievement exemplifies the transformative power of a classroom experience grounded in active engagement, critical thinking, and practical application.

Lesson Design Details

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Objectives

To deepen doctoral students' understanding of library resources
To encourage critical thinking and peer-to-peer learning through active learning activities

Resources include polling, Zoom platform, librarian presentationProceduresOpening (2-3 min)

Introduce session objectives and importance of research skills in academic journey
Outline planned session activities

Librarian Presentation + Q&A (25 min)Quick Write Activity (2 min)

Instruct students to jot down 1-2 burning questions about library research

Pair and Share Activity (10 min)

Students post questions in Zoom chat simultaneously to avoid influencing each other
Explain: break into pairs for 10 minutes to discuss their posted questions, possible solutions or research strategies
Circulate through breakout rooms to ensure productive conversations