15 mins
Presenters: Kimberly Breuer & Eric Spenk, University of Texas at Arlington
Take a look back at this excellent project idea to inspire students and give them real world learning experiences. Kimberly Breuer & Eric Spenk describe an activity they introduced to their first year history course, Science and Technology in American Society, which required the students to create interactive and textual content for an open-access textbook, gaining historical and analytical skills along the way. With guidance from faculty, TAs, and experiential learning librarians, students use library maker spaces to produce original media such as documentaries and video games.
Given the complex topics and STEM-focused student body, the course promotes engagement through student-led investigations of historical cases involving ethics and civic responsibility. This collaborative approach helps develop critical thinking, personal accountability, and an appreciation for the broader impact of scientific and technological innovation.
The talk highlights active learning strategies and digital tools including H5P, Mentimeter, and classroom backchannels, interdisciplinary collaboration, student-generated content, and the role of reflection and summative assessment in measuring learning outcomes.
The Active Learning Network 