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Table 1 Classroom characteristic statements, categorized into Interactive Classroom Characteristics and Other Classroom Characteristics

From: Characteristics of interactive classrooms that first year students find helpful

 

Item code

Student survey item

Interactive classroom characteristics

Peer support

Class is structured to encourage peer-to-peer support among students (e.g., ask a peer before you ask the instructor, having group roles, developing a group solution to share, etc.)

Student talk

I talk with other students about course topics during class

Criticize ideas

I constructively criticize other student’s ideas during class

Group work

I work with other students in small groups during class

Immediate feedback

I receive immediate feedback on my work during class (e.g., student response systems such as clickers or voting systems; short quizzes; etc.)

Questions

I am asked to respond to questions during class time

Other classroom characteristics

Instructor knows name

The instructor knows my name

Connections

The class activities connect course content to my life and future work

Wide participation

My instructor uses strategies to encourage participation from a wide range of students

Individual work

I work on problems individually during class time

Assignment feedback

I receive feedback from my instructor on homework, exams, quizzes, etc.

Lecture

I listen as the instructor guides me through major topics