Engaging Students with Theory and Real-World Data to Enhance Learning through Worked Examples

Meteorology students at the undergraduate level have shown a strong preference for learning application of content before the underlying theory. The Worked Examples pedagogy allows students to engage with the material by examining an expert-constructed guide of how to solve a problem rooted in real-world data. Self-explanation prompts are interspersed throughout to promote deeper understanding of the scenario and the theory behind it, as well as address and correct common misunderstandings. These examples are given as a pre-class assignment serve as the foundation for in-class time, where various active learning activities are leveraged to provide additional depth and further immerse students in each topic. This active learning demonstration will engage participants with sample worked examples and accompanying in-class activities, and describe how the method can be incorporated into various courses. The positive impact of this approach on student success will also be described.