Abstract:

One of the major complaints about teaching, is getting students to read class materials. I hear this complaint across the board—from new and experienced teachers, and from instructors at schools of varying sizes. Many professors have given up on engaging students with reading, take it for granted that students will not read, and simply use class-time to tell students what the materials state. This presentation provides one method of combating the problem of getting students to read: it will describe “entrance tickets” and how these small low stakes writing assignments have been used with success to improve student compliance with reading assignments.

I once heard a presenter ask what incentive there is for students to read if their professors will do so for them. It was considering this question that led to the creation of “Entrance Tickets” in the form being discussed in this presentation. The presentation will provide directions for the assignments, discuss compliance with reading, and student response to the assignments.

Keywords:

Reading, pedagogy, writing, teaching, learning.