The Top Hat active learning platform was made universally available to Texas State faculty, staff, and students in April. It is a popular tool for several reasons. Top Hat does more than provide a means for instructors to communicate with their students; the platform also helps build a sense of community.
What is Top Hat?
The Top Hat teaching app enhances the student learning experience by allowing instructors to interact with their students in real time. There are countless ways instructors can use Top Hat in the classroom. The app offers 14 different question types, affording instructors the opportunity to engage students with a wide variety of checks for understanding, from quick polling to more in-depth questioning. In addition, Top Hat provides a fun, hands-on experience students can access directly from a smartphone or laptop.
Building community
Texas State sophomore Avery Lozano was introduced to Top Hat in a biology class her first year. Her instructor used Top Hat during every class session. Whether used for a short review discussion between slides, or a quiz at the end of the lesson, Top Hat unified the class by ensuring everyone could get involved. The platform enabled students to learn from one another and facilitated conversation.
“I like the fact that it is an audience-response system because I like to see where my classmates are as well. So, if maybe I’m struggling with something, it makes me feel a little bit better if I can see that I’m not the only one. You can see if someone is thinking the same way you are,” said Lozano.
Avery Lozano’s early introduction to Top Hat in her first year underscored the value of classroom engagement. The frequent Top Hat checkpoints helped the instructor ensure the students were on the correct learning path, building their confidence and boosting peer collaboration.
Faculty insight
Dr. Joel Bergh, senior lecturer in the Department of Biology, agrees with Lozano’s observations about the value of Top Hat to students. Bergh, an avid Top Hat user and advocate, shares his experience using the platform in this short video.
Are you interested in learning more about Top Hat? Visit the IT Assistance Center’s Top Hat resource page for best practices, FAQs, tutorials, and more.
Angela Smith is a marketing and promotions coordinator in the IT Marketing and Communications Office.
