Kathleen and others: Thanks for raising this issue. I also wrestle with how to create a interesting and creative learning environment that will benefit the greatest number of students. My preference, both as a student and now as a teacher, is to have group discussions combined with class activities along with the occasional didactic lecture. Chalk it up to my ENFJ personality and background in group counseling. I recognize, though, that many students like the traditional lecture format. As a result, most of my classes in the past have been a combination of lecture, classroom discussion, and activities.
For my classes next semester I am planning on having more emphasis on student-led, seminar-style, group discussions that will require my students to read the material before class and then in smaller groups discuss some of the key points of the readings, raise and answer questions, discuss application of the material, integrate new material with old material, etc. I am considering trying a fishbowl approach where one small group holds the discussion, while the larger group actively listens and then makes comments upon conclusion of the small group discussion. For those of you whose courses are a combination of lecture and discussion, do you have any thoughts on how to sequence these activities? Do you have a separate day for lecture and a separate day for small-group discussions or activities? Do you find it preferable to have a day of lecture before you have a day of small group discussions (because it helps to provide a context of basic ideas for them to discuss more advanced ideas in their groups)? Or do you prefer to have a day of small group discussions before you have a day of lecture (because it helps them to actively process the material and you can then follow up the discussion with a more traditional lecture during the next class session?). In past semesters, I have just simply combined lectures with classroom discussions as it seemed appropriate. Next semester I want to be more deliberate and intentional in having students prepare for and lead smaller group discussions. My goal is to get students to be more active learners and thus demonstrate greater understanding, retention, and application of the material. All suggestions welcome! Rod > Hi Kathleen: > > Historically I went from complete lecture mode to complete > interactive learning > mode. The complete interactive learning mode NEVER worked for > me. I think that > this is at least partly due to my personality. I just do > better when I lecture > and that's all there is to it. I think I'm a good lecturer > and don't apologize > for it. At the same time, I do believe that lecturing does > allow for too much > passive absorption--and I'm no longer convinced that that is > bad, but that's a > different philosophical conversation....... > > But the other part of why interactive learning can fail comes > from student > resistance. One thing I do when I depart from lecture for any > prolonged time, > i.e, over several class sessions, is to constantly redirect > the students to the > purpose of the exercises and how they integrate into the > total course goals. > And I mean CONSTANTLY! > > Also, my belief is that at some level, before you can > construct you must have > some fundamentals. So I think that interspersing some lecture > is completely > appropriate. I believe at some point there is a good mix of > these two. I am > still looking for it because I think I may have gone too far > back to lecture > now :-) ah well, the search for perfection keeps the endeavor > interesting for > me. > > Annette > > Quoting Kathleen Morgan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > > Hi Tipsters, > > > > I am in need of some help from some cognitive psychologists > and maybe > > some social psychologists (attitude, persuasion, and change folks!) > > > > Thanks, > > --Kathy Morgan > > Wheaton College > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > --- > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To > > unsubscribe send a blank email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > Annette Taylor, Ph.D. > Associate Professor of Psychology > University of San Diego > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
