Contents
Input and outcome based teaching
Constructive alignment of learning outcomes
My tool box of learning styles
Examples of application of learner centred teaching techniques within Maths III module
Techniques to promote real audience interaction
Ways to encourage continued offline engagement
Movie summary of an Applications of Optics lecture
Adding material to the lecture framework
Barriers to learning
A history of input based teaching
Lecturer focuses on transmission of content and a lecture is deemed successful if the appropriate quantity of syllabus has been covered.
• little attempt to stimulate student off-line learning
• passive student learning taking place in lecture
• under-use of available teaching resources
• lecturer regarded as focal point and conduit of information
Passive students tend to be:
• dependent on lecture material and less likely to work offline
• interested by the greatest reward for the least effort
• focused on passing exams
• Surface learners rather than deep learners (SOLO 2,3)
The limitations of input based teaching
A larger intake means that a greater proportion of students come to university simply to get a degree to move into a job and their focus whilst at university is on the destination rather than the journey.
But can a module be designed to cater for the 2013/14 audience?
A future for outcome based teaching
Here the module lectures are based around creating an active learning environment inside and outside the lecture theatre.
• frequent reference to offline learning linked to learning outcomes
• active student learning takes place in lecture
• extensive use of a wide range of available teaching resources
• sustained student engagement and deeper learning are the overarching goals (SOLO 4,5)
The module framework
Teaching for Quality Learning at University, Biggs (1999)
‘getting the student to successfully perform the verb stated in the learning outcome and assessing their performance’
Module design aligns the learning outcomes, the learning activities and the assessment tasks.
Constructive Alignment
The framework of the moduleLearning outcomes should address both higher and lower cognitive skills (i.e. top and bottom levels of Bloom’s taxonomy).
Anderson and Krathwohl 2001
The approach to lecturing
Teaching for Quality Learning at University, Biggs (1999)
Biggs describes four levels of thinking about learning and teaching.
Level 1 : Input based : Not the teacher's responsibility to engage students.
Level 2 : Seeing teaching as a performance : Onus is on lecturer to ‘sell’ a lecture using good craft.
Level 3: Teaching seen as support for learning strategy linked to constructive alignment of a module.
Level 4: The student takes control of their own learning framework (independent learner).
My toolbox of learning styles
• Assimilation
New information is incorporated within an existing schema.
• Accommodation
New information cannot be incorporated within existing schemata, requiring understanding to change to be able to fit. Accommodation comes about when assimilation has failed.
I speed up for assimilation usually showing an example
I slow down for accommodation usually providing evidence, allowing reflection and conceptualisation.
1. Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development
My toolbox of learning styles
I try to construct material to chase the learners around the cycle by asking questions which encourage reflection, conceptualisation and ways of testing ideas and models.
2. The Kolb cycle (1984) Honey and Mumford (1986)
Key questions for activists:Will there be a wide variety of different activities? Will having a go be encouraged?Will I be challenged?
Key questions for reflectors:Will I be given enough time to consider and assimilate?Will there be plenty of reference material to use?Will there be opportunities to develop knowledge offline?
Key questions for theorists:Will there be opportunities to question?Do the learning objectives indicate a clear structure and purpose?Will I encounter complex ideas that will stretch me?
Key questions for pragmatists:Will there be time to practise and experiment?Will there be lots of practical tips and techniques?Will we address real world relevant problems?
My toolbox of learning styles
To disseminate information
To develop capability to use ideas and info
To develop the ability to critically assess ideas and
information
To develop ability to
generate ideas
Lecture P,T,R Role play A,PGroup
discussionAll
Brainstorm as class
A,P
Lecture led problems
P,T (A get bored, R get distracted)
Practical task
A,P (T and R if time given to reflect)
Students give presentations
A,P
Individual mini
research project
T,R
Self directed study
P,T,A,R as can choose their own method
Team quizzes
A,P (T and R if time given to reflect)
Case study All
Team problem solving
task
All
Demonstration by lecturer
P,R but too passive for A
and too basic for T
Individual quiz
All if questions are well
chosen and relevant
My toolbox of learning styles
3. VARK model Fleming (1987)
(1) Visual learners: a preference for seeing (maps, spider diagrams, charts, graphs, flow charts, labelled diagrams).
(2) Auditory learners: best learn through listening (lectures, group discussion, speaking).
(3) Read/write: text-based input and output (reading and writing, PowerPoint, Internet).
(4) Kinaesthetic learners: prefer to learn via experience (demonstrations, simulations, videos, applications).
My toolbox of learning styles
VARK Example: Snell’s Law
Snell's law is a formula used to describe the relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction, when referring to light passing through a boundary between two different media such as water and air.
Audio
Kinaesthetic
Water
air
4. Ripple Model, Phil Race (1993)
Wanting
The student must want to learn. Achieved by pointing out why they’re learning the subject, its relevance and value for their future work. Students must be aware of the learning outcomes.
Feedback
Must be returned to students in good time so that they still care about it, ensuring that they get plenty of advice so they can improve future work. Self assessing their own learning, peer assessing other students.
My toolbox of learning styles
Adding material to the lecture framework
Clarify the learning outcomes (1 min)
Recap of previous lecture (2 min)
Clarify the offline resources (VLE, facebook) (1 min)
Lecture body menu (4 x 10 min activities): various traditional e.g. discussion, taking notes, solving problem, etc.
Lecture jolt menu (1-2 min activities): tell a story, show a movie, give a demonstration, ask a question, pair discussion, quiz, pass round
an object
Summarise what has been covered (2 min) providing a couple of ‘take home’ messages.
• Students are provided with pre-reading ahead of the lecture and are expected to ask questions during session.
• Prior to starting, initiate a light-hearted conversation with students
• Be friendly - relaxed, enthusiastic, positive
• Lecturer and student on equal basis. Tone of voice = conversational not dictatorial.
• Strong use of eye contact and always refer to students by name
• Be critical of any negative behaviour - maintain environment
• Make it clear that the lecture is for their benefit - focus on learning
• Remind students to interrupt if they need clarification and thank students for questioning material
• Address student concerns sharing knowledge and understanding
• React to audience attention, changing lecture plan to suit.
Techniques to promote audience engagement and real interaction in a large lecture format
Things you can’t change but of which you should be aware
• Room temperature, room dimensions, visibility of boards, noise.
• Attention span varies on the number of prior lectures, low blood sugar, time of day, number of hours sitting in the same seat, etc.
Things you can do to prevent learning
• A stressful environment can be created if there is an expectation that individual students will be singled out to perform.
• Failure to break up a 50 minute lecture into 4 or 5 sections using a demonstration, a worked example, a question to the audience, a story, a video, etc.
• Failure to observe the audience and react by changing the teaching style if their attention is waning.
Barriers to learning during the lecture and those actions performed by the lecturer which can prevent learning
Promoting continued enthusiasm for offline independent study
• At end of lecture summarise what has been covered and ask if students are happy. Provide a couple of ‘take home’ messages.
• Direct students to engage in activities related to the lecture content (e.g. use of Audacity, timelapse photography, internet ‘instructables’, Youtube).
• Some learning outcomes must be linked / aligned to offline components (applets, online tutorials, support movies, practice questions, quizzes, worked examples).
• Promote offline resources at the start of each lecture.
• Promote the use of group resources for discussion.
Contact time in lectures represents a small fraction of the time students are expected to spend learning a module. Sustained participation in offline active high-level learning is important.
Example: Maths III2nd year module teaching solution of partial differential equations, Fourier series, Fourier transforms and the Frobenius method.
2 2
2 2 2
( , ) 1 ( , )y x t y x t
x c t
0)()()(2
2
xtCdt
dxtB
dt
xdtA
dtetfF ti )()(
Maths III Lecturer Led ProblemsGood for P and T. A get bored and R get distracted so try to make sessions as interactive as possible and link to notes.
Maths III Demonstration by lecturerGood for P ad R but too passive for A and too basic for T. Ask lots of questions and link demo to theory and maths.