CONNECTING THE DOTS: USING MIXED METHODS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN INTRODUCTORY GEOGRAPHY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

Each semester, approximately 450 students who enroll in GEOG 1123: Human Geography at the University of Arkansas. This course is a large, lecture-style class with a minimum of 150 students per section. In the Department of Geosciences, instructors make every effort to engage students in the material, and improve student learning through the implementation of new teaching techniques including technology and even media. As with any course, there are benefits and challenges. In-class discussions and activities, learning styles and the use of tools such as MasteringGeography^TM for quizzes to help emplace critical concepts will be discussed. Implications of this project could show an improvement of final scores through the use of these methods.