Post on 31-Jul-2015
Active Learning - Nancy Nelson 1
Active Learning in theEngineering Classroom
Nancy Nelson – Conestoga
Get today’s links and references on Twitter
@ProfNancyNelson
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Faculty Focus, “Unprepared and Unmotivated Students the Two Biggest Challenges for Faculty, Survey Says”, April 2012
What happened to my students?
Obedient Focused Dedicated Ill-Prepared
Unmotivated Easily Distracted
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2015
Today
1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012
Traditional Lecture
Interactive Lecture with class exercises
Interactive Lecture with class activities
Project-Based Learning
Flipped Classroom
lecture + solved problems; problem sets
lecture + class exercises; problem sets
lecture + class activities; problem sets and projects
lecture + class activities; multi-discipline projects
class activities; multi-discipline projects
Times are Changing …
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So what isActive Learning
anyway?
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University of Utah, Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, “Promoting Active Learning” – Happy Hour activity
It’s ‘Happy Hour’ …
1. Grab an Active Learning Sheet and a pen
2. Pair with someone from another table and pose the question on your sheet
3. Record his/her response
4. Switch sheets
5. Repeat with someone new
Active Learning - Nancy Nelson
Because it is Evidence Based
Because we’ve always done it
that way!
Why we Teach the Way we do
Freeman, Scott, Eddy, Sarah, et al, PNAS, June 10, 2014, vol. 111, no. 23, “Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics”
6
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Freeman, Scott, Eddy, Sarah, et al, PNAS, June 10, 2014, vol. 111, no. 23, “Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics”
Active Learning
“Active learning engages students in the process of learning through activities and/or discussion in class, as opposed to passively listening to an expert. It emphasizes higher-order thinking and often involves group work.”
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Freeman, Scott, Eddy, Sarah, et al, PNAS, June 10, 2014, vol. 111, no. 23, “Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics”
Students in a traditional lecture course are 1.5 times more likely to fail, compared to students in courses with active learning
Average failure rate drops from 33.8% to 21.8%
Findings …
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Freeman, Scott, Eddy, Sarah, et al, PNAS, June 10, 2014, vol. 111, no. 23, “Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics”
Students taught with active learning outperformed those taught by lectures by 6 percentage points on their exam.
Increase in exam performance equivalent to one grade level (ex. B to B+ or A- to A)
Findings …
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Class Time Required
Degree of Structure
Degree of Planning
Concrete Subject Matter
Experience with Topic
Experience with Method
Faculty Experience
F/S Interaction
LOW RISK HIGH RISK
Active Learning Strategies
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A Accountability
C Critical Thinking
T Teams
I Integration of Knowledge
V Value
E Engagement
Nelson, Nancy “Active Learning”
Goals when
choosing Strategies for Active Learning
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University of Utah, Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, “Promoting Active Learning”
Become an Expert …
1. Choose one active learning strategy (GREEN sheet or Strategies to Promote Active Learning sheet)
2. Use the Activity Assessment sheet to determine its Risk/Benefit (R/B)
3. Post your activity on the R/B spectrum
4. Share
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Recap …Strategies
Goals
Risks
Characteristics
Active Learning
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Your challenge …
Increase the
level of active
learning in at
least one of
your courses
next year!
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Back
Low Risk High Risk
High ‘ACTIVE’ rating
Low ‘ACTIVE’ rating
Assessing Active
Learning Strategies
Nelson, Nancy “Active Learning”