MAILING LISTS

Last semester was my first using TBL. This semester I am using TBL for the
second time but for a different course. So, a number of variables are
changing at once, meaning any conclusions that I draw are speculative.

Last semester I printed all my applicaton exercises (AEs) on paper and
distributed them to the students. This semester I projected the AEs on a
screen in front of the class.

The big difference between paper and screen projections is that with the
latter I get to control the pace. With the former, some teams would race
ahead while other teams lagged. This meant that although reporting was
simultaneous, the groups were often working on different problems at the
same time.

I have always resisted using a projector in any of my classes. My classes
are writing intensive and capped at 25 students, so I always preferred the
spontaneity and flexibility of writing with chalk on the board. Once I
started TBL, it became impractical to write the AEs on the board, so I just
printed them up as handouts, clinging to my old antiprojection bias.

I am now convinced that, at least in the TBL context, Powerpoint projections
are far superior to paper for AEs.