Ac 2008-1680: Phlips for Active Learning

The PHLIpS (Producing Hands-on Learning to InsPire Students) Method provides a systematic approach for professors desiring to develop active learning activities for their classrooms. Many professors appreciate the benefits of active learning and wish to include more activities in their classroom. Unfortunately, activities for a given topic or course are commonly not available as an off-the-self, ready-to-use product. The PHLIpS’s purpose is to be a quick and effective method for professors to streamline the development process for creating active learning activities for their classrooms. This paper briefly presents the method and then details a controlled experimental evaluation of the PHLIpS Method and supporting tools such as the flip book which contains short guidelines of each step. A between-participants experiment was used to measure the method’s effects. Participants were students in a graduate engineering class. Many planned to teach after graduation and most had experience as teaching assistants. Outcome measures included a post-session opinion survey and measures related to the concepts generated. The PHLIpS Method was found to be effective and was well received by the participants.