Scott Plous - What is Action Teaching

Scott Plous, a professor at Wesleyan University, introduces action teaching, an educational approach that simultaneously educates students and contributes to societal betterment. He provides examples of action teaching in various subjects and contrasts it with traditional education. Plous discusses his experience with a massive open online course (MOOC) on social psychology, which included the Day of Compassion assignment, leading to significant global impact. The course offered awards for outstanding student work, including meetings with compassion icons like the Dalai Lama and Jane Goodall. Plous encourages educators to incorporate action teaching and offers free resources on actionteaching.org.

What is the primary goal of action teaching as described by Scott Plous?

• To improve students' grades

• To enhance societal well-being while educating students

• To prepare students for standardized tests

• To focus solely on academic achievements

Which of the following is an example of action teaching mentioned by Scott Plous?

• Students raising funds for a nonprofit

• Students taking multiple-choice tests

• Students attending lectures

• Students writing essays for class

How does action teaching differ from traditional education methods?

• It relies on standardized testing

• It emphasizes individual competition

• It provides immediate societal contributions

• It focuses on rote memorization

What was the scale of the MOOC taught by Scott Plous?

• 700,000 students

• 100,000 students

• 500,000 students

• 1,000,000 students

What is the Day of Compassion assignment designed to do?

• Focus on theoretical knowledge

• Challenge students to live compassionately for a day

• Promote competitive behavior

• Encourage students to study alone

Who were the icons of compassion that students could meet as part of the Day of Compassion award?

• Albert Einstein and Marie Curie

• Nelson Mandela and Rosa Parks

• The Dalai Lama and Jane Goodall

• Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa

What resources does Scott Plous offer to teachers interested in action teaching?

• Exclusive membership programs

• Paid online courses

• Free materials on actionteaching.org

• Subscription-based newsletters