Suggestions on how to improve teaching in the School of Business

Improve student learning

Dr Robert ShawGuangdong University of Foreign Studies

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1. Robert’s experience of 2.5 years

2. Curriculum

3. Pedagogy

4. The next steps

What are the good things?

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1. Deans considerate & helpful

2. Support staff wonderful

3. Teachers’ collegial atmosphere- cope with high workloads- want to study- interested in research- support each other

4. Students- respect- cooperative

What are the bad things?

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1. Little use of teaching technology

2. Restrictions on information

3. Ignore the library

4. Students’ toleration

5. Students’ not given responsibility for their own learning

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1. My experience of 2.5 years

2. Curriculum

3. Pedagogy

4. The next steps

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CurriculumWhat you teach

EvaluationHow you assess

PedagogyHow you teach

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TextbookWhat you teach

ExaminationHow you assess

TeacherHow you teach

Studentperspective

Students need to learn skills

1. Higher level cognitive abilities

2. Business student skills:a. Find informationb. Summarisec. Assess argumentsd. Identify problemse. Solve problemsf. Design researchg. Write papersh. Present ideas

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1. My experience of 2.5 years

2. Curriculum

3. Pedagogy

4. The next steps

Let the students learn

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Let the students learn

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Text booksExaminations

TasksResearch papers

Student Centred strategies

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1. Facilitate study: provide student resources

2. Exercises

3. Use the library online facilities

4. Online tests

5. Research (paper writing)a. Argumentative reportb. Scientific report

6. Case studies & analysis of videos

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Learning objectives - skills

1. Locate, assess and use information from university and open source databases

2. Use bibliographic software (NoteExpress)

3. Use APA format for manuscripts & references

4. Demonstrate research skills, including the ability to find a problem/hypothesis, produce original ideas …

Facilitate study

STUDY JUST THIS PART

Basic exerciseThe management process

Planning Organizing Leading Controlling

Definition from Chuck Williams

Example: Teaching your course

Example: Being in control of an army unit

Video & audio recordings

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1. Place them on course website

2. Try to make the videos generic

3. Tests relate exactly to what was said in lectures

4. Helps with language learning

5. Helps advertise the university

BlackBoard

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1. Place them on course website

2. Try to make the videos generic

3. Tests relate exactly to what was said in lectures

4. Helps with language learning

5. Helps advertise the university

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How to access BlackBoard

Advantages

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1. Everything in one place

2. Fast communications to individuals or everyone

3. Students teach each other

4. Enables continuous assessment

5. Tests & assignments● Easy to prepare● Automatic marking & online marking● Reuse test items

Assessment using Blackboard1. Assessment drives the course – not content

2. Continuous assessment

3. Test higher level skills

4. Assessment componentsa. Testsb. Exercises c. Glossaryd. Research paper (scientific or argumentative)

Objective assessment vs essaysMarker errorExamination variability

40:60 rule, make it 50:50 in China

Use of practice tests – motivate & direct students

This saves the teacher’s time

Task for the week

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1. Tasks for the week are always due the day before the next session (you have until mid-night).

2. Always submit tasks through the Discussion

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Discussion

Students lodge their

work for the week

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Lectures & videos

1. Locate, assess and use information from university and open source databases

2. Use bibliographic software (NoteExpress)

3. Use APA format for manuscripts & references

4. Demonstrate research skills, including the ability to find a problem/hypothesis, produce original ideas …

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1. My experience of 2.5 years

2. Curriculum

3. Pedagogy

4. The next steps

Robert & Yuan Denghua

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1. Teaching & research

2. Weekly meetings

3. Bring different things to the partnership

4. Persistence

5. Teacher cluster

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The next steps: Teacher strategy

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1. Goals for your students● Work through whole semester● Higher standards● Learn the right things – research skills

2. Save timea. Video lectures & provide exercisesb. Exercises in class and as homeworkc. Assessment through Blackboard

Work smarter, not harder

The next steps: School strategy

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1. Require 50% objective assessment in all courses

2. Require in-course assessment

3. Require that students write papers in all courses

4. Enforce grade distribution – decide on fail rates

5. Make APA format compulsory

6. Remove attendance requirements

7. Help teacher clusters to improve teaching

Thank you