last update: 2021-09-22

overview

overview

 

  • (2 big ideas) learning styles concept

  • (5 things that work) a bag of tricks

  • (2 things to avoid) pitfalls

learning styles concept

Big idea # 1 Dunn 1984 “learning styles” exist

learning styles concept

Big idea # 1 Dunn 1984 “learning styles” exist

  • individual students differ

  • different teaching methods

  • the optimal teaching method may differ between students

  • is it therefore possible some teaching methods advantage some students relative to others?

learning styles concept

Traditional teaching styles

learning styles concept

Big idea # 2 Moskal et al. 2013 “blended learning”

Blended learning is a dangerous idea in that it challenges the status quo, maintaining the integrity of the traditional academy while simultaneously encouraging the adoption of platforms such as online learning, mobile technologies and resources that exist in the cloud

a bag of tricks

My name is Ed. And I am here to teach you statistics.

a bag of tricks

“I milk cows for a living. Why are you teaching me to do computer programming?”

a bag of tricks

a bag of tricks

Trick # 1 Communication
(I use Slack, Moodle forum, email, etc.)

Must be sustainable, be consistent, make it easy for yourself

a bag of tricks

Trick # 2 Feedback (multiple modes, don’t skimp)

Must be sustainable, be consistent, make it easy for yourself

(also, consructive alignment e.g. Biggs 1996)

a bag of tricks

Trick # 3 Formative assessment
(small tasks are especially good)

Build it up over time, see what works

a bag of tricks

Trick # 3 Formative assessment

Build it up over time, see what works

a bag of tricks

Trick # 4 Curate a variety of resources

Quality not quantity, organisation, be consistent

a bag of tricks

Trick # 5 Facilitate peer learning and interaction

Boud et al 1999

Peer learning approaches have been promoted to foster certain types or aspects of lifelong learning skills which are not as readily pursued by other means…

  • learning outcomes related to collaboration, and becoming a member of a learning community

  • critical enquiry and reflection

  • communication skills

  • learning to learn

a bag of tricks

Trick # 5 Facilitate peer learning and time to think

Don’t treat it as a one-time gimmick, make time for it formally

Short tasks:

– write you own quiz question, solve your neighbor’s quiz question, rewrite Ed’s quiz question but make it funny

Longer tasks:

– homework groups, breakout rooms

pitfalls

creepy white van
avoid forcing students and others to engage with a particular medium of content
(especially social media, but other stuff too)

pitfalls

Don’t forget kindness

suggested readings

(optional, of course)

Biggs, J., 1996. Enhancing teaching through constructive alignment. High Educ 32, 347-364.

Boud, D., Cohen, R., Sampson, J., 1999. Peer Learning and Assessment. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education 24, 413-426.

Dunn, R., 1984. Learning style: State of the science. Theory Into Practice 23, 10-19.

Moskal, P., Dziuban, C., Hartman, J., 2013. Blended learning: A dangerous idea? The Internet and Higher Education, Blended Learning in Higher Education: Policy and Implementation Issues 18, 15-23.