Student Engagement through Book

Clubs:

Lessons Learned

Dr. Stephen Owen & Dr. Tod Burke

Department of Criminal JusticeRadford University

IntroductionsDr. Stephen Owen & Dr. Tod Burke

Our Experience with Book Clubs

Goal: To Consider How Book Clubs Can Promote Student Engagement with Course Material

Literature ReviewKey Lessons:“Readicide” and “Reading Under Duress”Students Value Collaboration and EngagementValue of Writing about ReadingWhat the Best College Teachers Do

For Discussion…

What books related to your discipline – other than textbooks – could be used to enhance student learning?

Goals of Book ClubsEnhance engagement with course material

Promote critical reading and critical thinking

Enhance teamwork and communication skills

Structuring a Book Club Students work in groups Each group explores a

book Multiple group meetings to

process book content Incorporation of book

content into class Final paper Group

presentation/discussion

Prior to meeting Summary/Reflective journal Develop discussion

questions At the meeting

Share ideas Discuss questions Prepare group answer to

question posed by instructor

Implementation IssuesOne book, or multiple books?How to select books?How to assign groups?Ideal group size?Number of group meetings?What questions provide meaningful analysis?How to integrate with class?How to evaluate group work fairly?

Pro’s and Con’sPRO’s Promotes critical analysis See application of

material More than a “book

report” Promotes reading Builds professional skills OTHERS?

CON’s Faculty workload Student workload “Free rider” issues Picking the right books Not a good fit for all

classes OTHERS?

Developing a Book Club

Consider one of your courses…What purpose?What books?What questions?How to integrate with class?

Conclusion

Positive results of book clubs

Questions?