The Institute for Engineering Education & Innovation (IEEI) at Texas A&M University hosted a workshop on Perusall, an online social annotation platform, to improve student engagement and collaboration. The workshop was led by Robert Lightfoot, an experienced educator who has seen an increase in grades for reading assignments since using the platform.
Perusall allows faculty to upload reading assignments and set deadlines for completion. Students can ask questions about the textbook and discuss it with their peers. The platform also shows the average time spent reading the book, allowing faculty to monitor engagement levels.
Lightfoot emphasized that Perusall encourages students to come to class prepared and ready to participate. It removes the need for students to guess their way through assignments, leading to better grades and a deeper understanding of the material.
The workshop was a great success, with faculty members learning how to use Perusall effectively in their courses. By incorporating this innovative technology into their teaching, IEEI is working towards a more engaging and collaborative learning environment for its students.