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
Copyright David Mamorella 2013. This work is the intellectual
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NERCOMP ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Providence, RI - March 12, 2013
What Makes the Biggest Impact
on Student Learning?
David Mamorella
Instructional Developer / Adjunct Public Speaking Professor
Victoria Gurrieri, Jacqueline Warren, Dylan Buckley
Students
http://www.albany.edu/faculty/dmamorella
https://twitter.com/UAlbanyNercomp
Student Demographics
 114 students surveyed
29%
males
females
71%
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29% Sr, 40% Jr, 18% So, 12% Fr
39% Psychology Majors
23% Communication Majors
38% Other Majors
Agenda
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Learning Styles
What impacts and motivates students to learn?
Classroom Environment
How can professors measure student learning?
Impact of Blackboard/Technology
Findings/Lessons Learned
Conclusion
Q&A
Learning Styles
What is the most important factor
that impacts student learning?

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The Professor
Textbook / Assigned readings
Class activities and assignments
Your interest level in the class
Ability to apply knowledge/skills to real world


http://www.albany.edu/faculty/dmamorella
twtpoll.com/lqnq60
What is the most important factor
that impacts student learning?
 #1 – The Professor – 52%
60
52%
50
40
30
19%
20
8%
10
0
professor
interest level
class
activities/assignments
Teaching
 “The mediocre teacher tells.
The good teacher explains.
The superior teacher demonstrates.
The great teacher inspires.”
-William Arthur Ward
Audience Results
 twtpoll.com/lqnq60
What is the biggest factor that motivates
you to learn/do well in a class?
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The Professor
Receiving a good grade
Acquiring knowledge/skills for use in real world
Your interest level in the class
Self-fulfillment, sense of accomplishment


http://www.albany.edu/faculty/dmamorella
twtpoll.com/o2bv32
What is the biggest factor that motivates
you to learn/do well in a class?
 #1 – Receiving a Good Grade
35
30%
30
27%
25
20
17%
15
10
5
0
receive a good grade
professor's teaching
style
interest level
Audience Results
 twtpoll.com/o2bv32
Which classroom environment do you
learn best in?
 student-centered classroom
 traditional one-way lecture
 the classroom environment has little to no
impact on how I learn


http://www.albany.edu/faculty/dmamorella
http://twtpoll.com/evoiqj
Which classroom environment do you
learn best in?
6%
22%
student-centered
classroom
one-way lecture
no impact
72%
Interesting Finding
 Communication Majors
 89% student-centered classroom
 11% one-way lecture
 Psychology Majors
 60% student-centered classroom
 30% one-way lecture
 10% classroom environment has no impact
Audience Results
 http://twtpoll.com/evoiqj
Follow up Question
 How, or in what ways, does an interactive,
engaging classroom impact your learning?
OR
 Does it just make the class more
interesting/fun to attend?
Student Comments
 Captures my attention
 Helps me understand and retain information
longer
 Getting me involved makes me want to come
to class, makes me want to participate.
 Encourages me to voice my opinion
 We, as in students, have a short attention
span, so it helps keep us awake.
Student Comments
 Encourages me to not only learn but also do
well in classes.
 I am able to hear what others have to say as
well as how my opinions relate/differ from my
peers.
 Makes a more comfortable learning environment
 Gives you a sense of responsibility and
belonging
My Teaching Strategy
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Arrange seats in U-shape
Build community
Get students to know one another
Post picture/brief bio on Blogs
Minimal “lecturing”
Class time – Informal, interactive speaking
activities and discussions, short video clips
Community Building Activities
 Fun but serve a purpose
 Nonverbal
 Impromptu
 The HOTSEAT
What are the most effective ways professors
can measure student learning?
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multiple-choice / short answer tests
written assignments / papers
oral presentations
pre/post quizzes
student created projects/products
student evaluations of the professor/course
surveys
student self-assessments


http://www.albany.edu/faculty/dmamorella
http://twtpoll.com/0b68g3
What are the most effective ways professors
can measure student learning?
mc / short answer tests
63%
written assignments / papers
59%
surveys
46%
self-assessments
44%
pre/post quizzes
43%
projects/products
43%
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Surface Learning
 If multiple-choice testing = memorization and
recall of information which is often forgotten by
students shortly after the course has ended,
then what’s the point?
 Numerous studies at several universities
world-wide found that students became
stronger surface learners in college and not
deep learners.
My Public Speaking class
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Deep Learning Assignments
Survey Presentation
Debate
Ceremonial Speech
Student Self-Assessments
 Students watch themselves on video
Student Self-Assessments
 Self-assessments are invaluable
 Goal of my class: Confidence
 How do I measure confidence?
Surveys
 iclickers
 surveymonkey.com
 twtpoll.com
Audience Results
 http://twtpoll.com/0b68g3
Do you expect professors to use Blackboard
or technology to some extent in the
classroom?
7%
19%
yes
indifferent / does
not matter
no
73%
Does the professor’s use of technology
improve your learning?
12%
2%
yes, but depends on
how effectively used
not much of a
difference
no
86%
Key Point
 Technology does not teach students effective teachers do.
 How will incorporating technology
improve/enhance teaching and learning?
 Why is this a Bad Podcast?
http://www.albany.edu/faculty/dmamorella/badpodcast.mp3
Advantages of using Blackboard
 95% Viewing course content
 94% Viewing your grades/feedback
 72% Communicating with the professor
and students
 62% Submitting assignments/tests
Weaknesses/Disadvantages of Blackboard
 45% - Technical difficulties
 42% - We had a Blackboard site but the
professor rarely used it.
 30% - Professor’s inexperience with using
Blackboard
What Blackboard communication tools
do you find useful / not useful?
 Useful, if used
99% Announcements
84% Email/Messages
76% Calendar
73% Discussion Board
60% Groups
56% Journal
54% Wiki
52% Chat
46% Blogs
What Blackboard communication tools
have you never used?
 Never Used
77% Chat
75% Wikis
63% Blogs
60% Journals
59% Groups
51% Calendar
How does participating in a required
online discussion impact your learning?
 35% - Never participated in an online discussion
27%
42%
depends on the
class/discussion
little to no
difference;
requirement
positive impact
31%
Findings / Lessons Learned
 It’s not what you take, it’s who you take
 Motivation - Receiving a Good Grade
 Student-Centered Classroom preferred
 MC/Short answer tests were most beneficial;
written assignments a close 2nd
 Surface Learning vs Deep Learning
Findings / Lessons Learned
 Students have different learning preferences
that vary based on major
 Blackboard
 Students expect professors to use it
 It’s helpful and improves learning
 Required Online Discussions - mixed results
Further research needed
Findings / Lessons Learned
 A much larger sample size from a crossrange of majors is needed.
 It would be interesting to compare results of
student learning across majors.
Conclusion
 "Ask not what your students can
do for you - ask what you can do
for your students"
Questions?
http://www.albany.edu/faculty/dmamorella
https://twitter.com/UAlbanyNercomp

David Mamorella

jmwarren@albany.edu
dmamorella@albany.edu

Victoria Gurrieri
vgurrieri@albany.edu
Jacqueline Warren

Dylan Buckley
dbuckley@albany.edu