Augmenting Interactive Learning
Through Technology
A Participatory Workshop with Faculty & Staff
Illinois State University, March 25, 2003
David G. Brown (facilitator)
VP and Dean (ICCEL)
Wake Forest University
Likely Agenda
• 2:00-2:15. Agenda, Introductions, Objectives,
Gardener’s Metaphor, Five Teaching Strategies
• 2:15-2:45 Lecture re Time Saving Tips. Argument
starting statement re Learning Impact of
Computers
• 2:45-3:00 Participants Share Time Savers and Tips
• 3:00-4:30 Mini-lectures on each of 5 strategies,
followed by breakout sessions and reports. End
result will be a list of strategies used at Illinois
State
• 4:30-5:00 Participants Share What They Learned
Objective:
to stimulate your thinking
…about specific courses
…as catalyzed by the new
possibilities of the computer
Time Gaining Strategy #1
Keep It Simple (Stupid)!
• Emphasize Email, URL’s, & CMS
• Standardize--hardware, software, projection,
training, help desk
• Provide Access to All---avoid double systems
• Use Simple Templates---viewable by older, slower,
lower priced computers
• Add Technology in Small Bites
• Utilize Familiar Systems---E.g.: Internet browsers
• Don’t Be the First to Upgrade
Time Gaining Strategy #2
Shift Work to Students
• Have them annotate the best web sites
• Designate a student-manager-of-the-week
to handle paperwork
• Build administrative systems that enable
students to update their own data
• Encourage peer feedback
• Reward students who help others learn
Time Gaining Strategy #3
Involve Others in Teaching
• Ask students to critique each others’ papers
before submission
• Have student A and B agree upon a joint
submission & grade only one paper
• Recruit alumni mentors, college staff
• Build hierarchies of support
• Provide access to work of previous classes
Time Gaining Strategy #4
Preserve Completed Work
• Back Up Your Own Work
• Encourage Students to Back Up Their Work
• Require Students to Keep Copies of All the
Work they Submit
• Help Students Create Portfolios for Archiving
their Important Documents and Transferring
Them to After-College Systems
Time Gaining Strategy #5
Focus Work
• [“Too Many” Degrees of Freedom]
• Identify precisely Your Desired Outcome
• Guide Students to More Efficient Learning
Paths
• Use the Power of Search Engines
• Build Small Chunks
• Separate Out the Reusable
Your Turn!
Illinois State Tips
Illinois State Tips
*Create a discussion board for every assignment on WebCT.
And require that each student make a contribution to the
Discussion board---within 48 hours.
*Create a “helpful links” database. Post worksheet that
Directs students to these links. Web Quest!
*Use headers on PowerPoint slides. Not a lot of text.
*Keep bright lights.
*Use high contrast (yellow and blue)
*Pick up the phone (or email someone)—when in need, ask!
*Real time, course relevant, tech-lab, small group experiences
Illinois State Tips
Tips Involving E-mail
• Create group list for each class.
Include yourself. Share list with the class.
• Have students e-mail you from the
address they use
• E-mail tips for success re a key assignment
• E-mail class when grades have been posted
• Use e-mail for between-class alerts
• Send individuals personal notes of
encouragement
More Tips Involving E-mail
• Encourage students to email each other
• Give current students the names and emails of
former students
• Use student consolidators
• Consider your own separate e-mail box for
each class
• Use email for good news. Deliver bad news F2F
Tips Re Discussion
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Usually Avoid Chat
Set tight parameters re time, length, & topic
Let students know you’re lurking, and care
Push students in the early days; then, back off
Avoid “low value” discussions
Consider Electronic Office Hours
When possible, hold complex discussions F2F
Tips Re Feedback
• Provide current students access to outstanding
student papers written for you in previous
terms
• Return a sample of papers with grading
comments to the entire class (hide authors’
names)
• Create a frequently asked (and answered)
questions file & refer students to it
• Establish an “administrative thread” in your
asynchronous discussion area
More Tips Re Feedback
• Create a database of frequently used
comments, then copy and paste from it
• When grading an electronic paper, use a
different color font and insert comments
directly
• Consider using an electronic-movie to explain a
set of actions on the computer
• Ask students to email you re their “foggiest
point” and/or their understanding of the “most
important point” from the last class
How has the computer changed
teaching and learning? (my answer)
1. It’s caused every teacher to
rethink & redesign.
2. By increasing student options, it has increased
competition which has in turn compelled
universities to pay more attention to the quality
of teaching
Our profession has been changed forever!
Reasons 150 Professors Added
Computer Enhancements
1. Communication-Interaction
2. Collaboration-Teams
3. Controversy-Debate
4. Customization-Diversity
5. Consultants-Adjuncts
FIRST YEAR SEMINAR
The Economists’ Way of Thinking:
• To understand a liberal arts education as an opportunity to
study with professors who think by their own set of concepts
• To learn how to apply economic concepts
• To learn how to work collaboratively
Students = 15
• To learn computer skills
All Freshmen
Required Course
• To improve writing and speaking
Business Week, December 3, 2001
Communication-Interaction
•1247 emails
•One Minute Quiz
•Muddiest Point
•Student Profiles
•Booce Tournament
Collaboration-Teams
•2 Students Submit 1 Answer
•Edit Rough Draft Papers
•PowerPoint in Class
•Public Web Page
•Name 3 Most Helpful Students
Instructions for First Examples Exercise----
1. Form groups of four or five.
2. Come up with a list of five ways to promote
interactive learning (either with the computer or
without). All ways listed should be actually used by
at least one member of the group. Try to generate
a list greater than five, then cut the list to five by
choosing the practices that might most likely be
adopted by other faculty.
3. Do the same for collaboration.
4. Stand ready to report to a plenary session of the
workshop.
Interactive Learning Examples
by
*Arrange students in a U.
*Students answer, then negotiate a common answer.
*Have students work in groups
*Have students write questions for own exam
*Use groups (keep groups mixed)
*Learn interest & send note to them
*Have students email question in advance
*Email follow up after class
*Feedback Feedback Feedback!!!!!!!!
*Send links to students that connect with their particular interests
*Create an open environment
Interactive Learning Examples
by
*Blind fold students to experience what it’s like to be blind
Interactive Learning Examples
by
*
Interactive Learning Examples
by
*
Collaboration Examples
by
*Socialize students toward collaboration & risk taking
*9 activities during class (during the term). Problem solving
In class. Each student has a role. Come down front & share with
The class. EG create a ti
Collaboration Examples
by
*
Collaboration Examples
by
*
Collaboration Examples
by
*
Controversy-Debate
•More Class Time
•Cross-Culture Projects
•Best Web Sites
•Competitive Team Projects
•Double Jeopardy Quiz
Customization-Diversity
•Cybershows (lectures, demos)
•Personal Notes (email again)
•Hierarchy of Help
•Preview and Review
•Just In Time Teaching
Consultants-Adjuncts
•Alumni Editors
•Globe Theatre
•Guests in Class
•Disciplinary Colleagues
•Computer Tip Talks
Controversy-Debate Examples
by
*
Customization Examples
by
*
Consultant-Adjunct Examples
by
*
The 5 C’s---New Opportunities
Through Technology
• Communication-Interaction
• Collaboration-Teams
• Controversy-Debate
• Customization-Diversity
• Consultants-Adjuncts
The Millenium Context
• Personal. Customized. Interactive.
• Student-Centered Curriculum
• Teams of Professionals to Support
Learning
• “Houses” instead of Disciplines
• Hybrid Courses (80-20 and 20-80)
• Loose-leaf Collections of Course
Components, instead of Textbooks
Student
Teacher
•My.yahoo
•Custom learning team
•Custom delivery
•Custom learning resources
Student-Centered
Learning
in the New Millennium
David G. Brown
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, N.C. 27109
336-758-4878
email: brown@wfu.edu
http//:www.wfu.edu/~brown
fax: 336-758-4875
ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 2003
THE WAKE FOREST PLAN
IBM A30, Pentium III, 1.13GHz Processor, 30GB Hardrive, 384 MB RAM
15”ActMatrix Screen, CD-RW/DVD, Floppy, 56k modem, 16MB Video Ram,
10/100 Ethernet, USB&Serial&Parellel&Infrared Ports
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
IBM Laptops for all
Printers for all
New Every 2 Years
Own @ Graduation
31,000 Connections
Standard Software
99% E-Mail
Start 1995, 4 Year Phase In
+15% Tuition for 37 Items
+40 Faculty and 30 Staff
Standard Load Includes—
MS Office, Dreamweaver, SPSS, Maple,
Acrobat, Photoshop, Shockwave, Flash,
Net Meeting, Real Producer & Player,
Media Player, Windows XP Moviemaker,
Apple QuickTime, Netscape & Explorer,
Netscape Calendar & Communicator,
Windows XP Professional