A lively classroom can be a productive classroom. But for any instructor who’s tried to encourage verbal participation in a group of unprepared students, one thing’s clear: The work they do before class is the key to making the class come to life.

In this lively presentation, Professor Scott T. Ptak, who currently teaches strategy in the Operations Management and Strategy Department at SUNY Buffalo, and Jaclyn Travis, Sr. Manager, Faculty Engagement & Insights at Top Hat, discuss how the effective use of technology can raise the bar for participation and accountability among students. Audience members will be given a brief preview of the Top Hat teaching platform, after which Professor Ptak will demonstrate how he uses it to ensure students do their reading before class, arrive ready to participate in a spirited discussion and leave with a more well-rounded understanding of the subject matter and the diverse perspectives that surround it.