active learning workshop for tas. introductions name department how long you ’ ve been assisting...
TRANSCRIPT
Active LearningActive LearningActive LearningActive Learning
Workshop for TAsWorkshop for TAs
IntroductionsNameDepartmentHow long you’ve been assisting at AUC
Remember what others have said?
Split into groupsEach one talks for one minute about what courses they are assisting and some of the challenges/issues there
Remember what others have said?Why?
How to Make How to Make BreakfastBreakfast
How to Make How to Make BreakfastBreakfast
A set of exercisesA set of exercises
Lecture: Making Breakfast
Scramble eggsBrew the coffeeHeat the toast
Simple lesson? We all got it?
A Show of Hands…Has everyone HAD breakfast this morning?
Ramadan!!!
Does everyone eat breakfast when not fasting?Who likes eggs for breakfast?Who likes coffee for breakfast?Who knows how to make scrambled eggs?
What was wrong with the first lesson?
Assumptions?Relevance?Other?
Breakfast ComponentsIn groups, brainstorm for a few minutes on breakfast components and present them to the classHow is this different from the initial lecture?
Debating BreakfastSplit into two groups:
Healthy breakfastUnhealthy but tasty breakfast
After a few minutes of thinking, “debate” what a “good” breakfast “should” contain
Alone: arrange a breakfast for someone
who:Is dietingCan’t digest milk productsCan't digest beansDoesn't like coffee/tea
Would you have been able to do so using the first lecture?
Active LearningActive LearningActive LearningActive Learning
A Theory ReviewA Theory Review
So what is active learning?
"…anything that students do in a classroom other than merely passively listening to an instructor's lecture" (Paulson and Faust)Includes helping students listen better, short exercises related to in-class material, complex group exercises, applying real-life problems, etc.
Benefits of active learning
You know more about how the students are thinking/absorbingStudents become more involved and engagedStudents learn extra skills beside the content matter Makes use of what students already knowHelps students think of how the subject matter can be applied in their day-to-day lives or other real-life contexts
How can I apply active learning?
Have you been exposed to this? Today or even before in other classes?We already displayed a few techniques: poll/pretest, brainstorming, debate, problem-based learningListing of different techniques is available onlineCan be applied for a certain concept or an entire chapter or an entire semester
How Can Technology Help?
Any ideas?WebquestsOnline quizzesOnline interactive material (www.merlot.org)Online discussions or chats
Cooperative LearningCooperative LearningCooperative LearningCooperative Learning
Theory & PracticeTheory & Practice
What is Cooperative Learning
What do you think it means?Do you think it is a form of active learning?Why?Where have you used cooperative learning in your discipline?
A Definition (Slavin)
Cooperative learning (also called social learning) is learning that occurs when groups of students
work together rather than individually.
Why Cooperative Learning?
Active vs. passiveQuicker more personal feedback from peers Learn from others’ thinking/skillsDevelop higher-level thinking skillsDevelop social/interpersonal skillsBetter appreciation of diversity and different points of view
E.g. Learning TogetherWork together and hand in an assignment for a group grade – emphasis on team-building and discussions on group dynamics
(easily applicable to any group work in any discipline)
E.g. Group Investigation
Work together through cooperative inquiry, discussion, project planning, presenting to rest of class
(easily applicable to e.g. Management projects; science/engineering projects)
E.g. Cooperative Scripting
Cooperative scripting: work in pairs, and summarize parts of material to each other for feedback[1]
(applicable to any material-based activity)
[1] Research shows higher gains in achievement by the one speaking rather than the one listening
JigsawSpecialist groups working on different aspects of the projectGet together to integrate For example…
Issues/ChallengesIssues/ChallengesIssues/ChallengesIssues/Challenges
How To Know Everyone Has Worked
Partial group and partial individual accountability – how?Assign specific roles – e.g. JigsawEach student to state what their particular contribution to the work wasGroup members to assess the group work (what went well/poorly) midway & at end
How to Group Students?
Self-chosen groupsCommitmentBut: Friends?
By diversity (of e.g. major, academic achievement, academic standing, gender)
More to learn from each otherBUT More time to get used to each other
By similarity (e.g. of interest)Not self-formed so not just friendsBUT difficult & no diversity to learn from
Group Size?Depends on the task at hand“two” is a pair…Usually 3-6 is idealLarger numbers possible if tasks can be split up into sub-tasks
Preparing Students for Group Work
Clear expectationsRegular team reviews
Group workIndividuals
Ice-breakers or team-building exercises (search the net for ideas!)
Active/Cooperative?Do you feel active or cooperative learning will help your classes?Can you think of immediate applications of cooperative or active learning for the courses you assist?Pass by CLT if you decide to apply and would like to assess success
ReferencesAnon. (undated) "Active Learning Techniques" http://ic.educ.indiana.edu/workshop2003/pdf/active_learning_techniques.pdfPost A (2003) “Cooperative Learning” http://atozteacherstuff.com/pages/1875.shtml Slavin R E (2003) “Educational Psychology: Theory and Practice 7th edition”. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.Concept to Classroom (2004) http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/coopcollab/index_sub3.htmlPaulson D R and Faust J L (undated) "Active Learning for the College Classroom" http://www.calstatela.edu/dept/chem/chem2/Active/
Thank YouThank YouThank YouThank YouQuestionsQuestions
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