ITEW Evaluation of Teacher Learning Experience 2015

Oulu UAS, Kotkantie Campus, Engineering, Natural Resources, Media and Performing ArtsBastian Fähnrich & Claire Le Parc (May 2015)

Purpose:1) Evaluating teacher experience during International Teacher Exchange Week 2015 (http://www.oamk.fi/itew2015)

Based on evaluation sessions during ITEW (http://u.oamk.fi/itew2015evaluationsession)Focus on academic/professional experience (http://u.oamk.fi/teacherexperience)

2) Supporting host teaching staff to improve quality of teacher exchange to Oulu UAS3) Assisting guest teaching staff in reflecting on their learning experience during ITEW

Methods:4) Evaluation Sessions at the end of ITEW (http://u.oamk.fi/itew2015evaluationsession)5) Generating Results after Evaluation Sessions

Results:6) Categories based on quantitative and qualitative responses7) Dimensions “Performance“ (edifying/positive vs. challenging/negative experience) and “Importance “

8) Presentation

Detailed ResultsMain Results Measures

Impo

rtan

ce

Categories Dimensions

+ -Performance

Teaching Leveland Approach (incl. Content & Methods)

Cooperation between Host & Guest Teachers

Participation of Local Students in Teaching

Teaching Facilities and Equipment

Timetables are naturally limiting possibilites for teaching, but these should be available at an earlier stage, if possible

In some cases the teaching topic/content, method level and duration of teaching session and background of students could be better agreed or assessed in advance.

Expecting more opportunities for views and good practiceon teaching and learning between host/guest teachers

Learning about and comparingteaching levels and approaches

Exploring new teachingmaterials and methods,Getting to know new trends inone‘s own profession

Good opportunities for exchanging viewsand good practice on teaching and learning withexperienced host / guest teachers

Facilities & technical equipment ofclassrooms and labs is on a high levelbut what really matters is the peopledelivering education.

Meet & Greet rooms were used andcreated a positive atmosphere for networking, and so did the social programme in general, adding flavorto the teaching experience.

In some cases, more efforts should be taken by guest (and host teachers) to cooperate effectively. Especially, there should be more time taken to adjust the teaching topic/content and method, and to devise strategies to get the students better involved in the teaching and learning process.

In most cases, cooperation between host and guest teachers worked well, and inspired teachers to explore and develop content and method of their subjects in mutually benefiting ways. Students participated actively in relevant teaching sessions.

Local students were mostly interested in the teachingdelivered by guest teachers, and participated activelyin the teaching sessions, especially project classesand workshops.

Local students’ participation and interaction in the teaching sessions could have been more active, but it depends naturally on many things. Some guest teachers were also surprised by the responsiveness and attentiveness of local students.

Facilities & technical equipment of classrooms and laboratories could be better checked beforehand during the face-to-face meetings of host and guest teachers

Teaching Leveland Approach (incl. Content & Methods)

Cooperation between Host & Guest Teachers

Participation of Local Students in Teaching

Teaching Facilities and Equipment

Main Results

Importance(N.B.! Areas of evaluation are almost equally important,

but further measures should to be considered according to prioritiesset on Oulu UAS‘ institutional and departmental levels)

Teaching interesting topics anddevising / adjusting successfully- content and methods- background/level of students- duration (min 8 hrs)

Teaching topics/content and methods should bemore carefully devised and streamlined in advanceto help raising interest and facilitatingthe matchmaking of host and guest teachers.

Other rooms or spaces could be used to facilitate meetings and real encounters between people participating in the ITEW both concerning teaching and the social programme.

Performance-+

• Expecting more on site opportunities for networking and exchanging views on project-based, business-driven, multidisciplinary approaches in teaching and learning at HEIs between host and guest teachers and other relevant staff (e.g. R&D).

• In general, there could be more face-to-face meeting time (formal and informal events) to focus on best practice in education, sharing teaching material, exploring research and development in various fields and other opportunities for international cooperation and mobility.

• In some cases the teaching topic/content, level & duration of teaching session and student target group, background knowlegde and skills of students could be better agreed or assessed in advance during the cooperation process of host and guest teachers.

• Teaching topics/content should be more carefully devised and streamlined in advance to help raising interest and facilitating the matchmaking of host and guest teachers before, during and after the ITEW.

• Timetables are limiting possibilites for arranging and taking part in teaching sessions, but these should be available at an earlier stage.

• In some cases, more efforts should be taken by guest (and host teachers) to cooperate and communicate effectively. Especially, there should be more time taken to adjust the teaching topic/content and method, and to devise strategies to get the students better involved in the teaching and learning process.

• Local students’ participation and interaction in the teaching sessions could have been more active, but it depends naturally on many things. Some guest teachers were also surprised by the responsiveness and attentiveness of local students.

• Facilities & technical equipment of classrooms and laboratories could be better checked beforehand during the face-to-face meetings of host and guest teachers

• Other rooms or spaces could be used to facilitate meetings and real encounters between people participating in the ITEW both concerning teaching and the social programme.

Importance(N.B.! Areas of evaluation are almost equally important,

but further measures should to be considered according to prioritiesset on Oulu UAS‘ institutional and departmental levels)

Detailed Results

• Experiencing and learning about same and different teaching approaches (content and method, within and across disciplines or fields of education) at HEIs.

• Getting to know new teaching materials and trends in own field of education and profession.

• Exchanging views on teaching and learning with more experienced colleagues from HEIs hosting and participating in the ITEW.

• Generating and following up on implementation of projects and other forms of international cooperation and mobility.

• In most of the cases the choice of the teaching topic/content, level of teaching, duration of teaching sessions (min 8 hrs, incl. evaluation) and student target group, background knowledge and skills of students was appropriate.

• Interesting teaching topics/content from guest teachers, both students and host teachers enjoyed the teaching and matching host and guest teachers worked well before, during and after the ITEW.

• Timetables are naturally and purposefully limiting possibilites for arranging and taking part in teaching sessions.

• In most cases, cooperation and communication between host and guest teachers worked well, and inspired teachers to explore and develop content and method of their subjects in mutually benefiting ways. Students participated actively in relevant teaching sessions.

• Local students were mostly interested in the teaching delivered by guest teachers, and participated activelyin the teaching sessions, especially project classesand workshops.

• Facilities & technical equipment ofclassrooms and labs is on a high levelbut what really matters is the peopledelivering education (host and guest teachersand administrators).

• Meet & Greet rooms were used andcreated a positive atmosphere for networking,and so did the social programme in general,adding flavour to the teaching experience.

Teaching Leveland Approach (incl. Content & Methods)

Cooperation between Host & Guest Teachers

Participation of Local Students in Teaching

Teaching Facilities and Equipment

Performance-+

Importance(N.B.! Areas of evaluation are almost equally important,

but further measures should to be considered according to prioritiesset on Oulu UAS‘ institutional and departmental levels)

Measures

Teaching Leveland Approach (incl. Content & Methods)

Cooperation between Host & Guest Teachers

Participation of Local Students in Teaching

Teaching Facilities and Equipment

• Requesting appropriate and streamlining teaching topics/content and methods for teaching sessions at departmental level of Oulu UAS, by heads of educational departments(implemented, to be improved)

• Matchmaking of guest and host teachersaccording to: - educational field - topic/content - method (lectures, project, workshop, poster etc., min 8 hours) - level and background skills of students - student target group (implemented, to be improved)

• Scheduling teaching sessions in relevant fields of education and topics/content well in advanceaccording to curricula timetables, for exampleone week designated especially for the ITEW (implemented, to be improved)

• Sharing guidelines for host and guest teachers - http://u.oamk.fi/hostteacherguide- http://u.oamk.fi/guestteacherguide (implemented, to be improved)

• Arranging advance on site briefing session(s)for host teachersabout important tasks and aspects of the ITEW(to be implemented).

• Facilitating more time for host and guest teacher cooperation and communicationin advance and on site, e.g. by e-mail/skype beforehand and on Monday face-to-face(implemented, to be improved)

• Colour coding host and guest teacher teams(to be implemented)

• Considering joint teaching sessionsbetween host and guest teachers(to be implemented, optional)

• Devising innovative pedagogical methodsbetween host and guest teachersto ensure participation of local students(to be implemented, recommended)

• Facilitating in advance preparation oflocal students by host (and guest) teacher(to be implemented, recommended)

• Applying icebreaker momentsat the beginning of the teaching sessionby guest (and host) teachers,e.g. traffic light cards and tasks for students(to be implemented, recommended)

• Integrating feedback or Q&A momentsat the end of teaching sessionby host (and guest) teacher (to be implemented, recommended)

Performance-+