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Seven Principles Home
Page l Gathering and Sharing Teaching Ideas l
Some educational research
findings are counter-intuitive for at least some faculty
(e.g., there has been little or no relationship between
cumulative GPA and what happens to graduates in later life,
other than in later schooling). But some findings from
decades of research are in accord with the judgment of
seasoned faculty, as this workshop task can reveal. You can
use this task for a workshop either face to face or online.
In either the leader should provide quick feedback as people
submit their ideas. The goal is to have faculty describe
ideas for improving teaching and, after the list of their
ideas has been completed, show them the seven principles of
good practice. If the group of faculty is large and they've
had enough time to brainstorm, the chances are good that
most or all of their ideas will be consistent with the seven
principles and that six or even seven of the principles will
have been touched on by at least one faculty member, even if
none of the faculty has ever heard of the seven principles
before.
When using this task at the
SUN Conference at the University of Texas at El Paso in
March 2005, Steve Ehrmann
took notes at
the computer, projecting the ideas in large print onto a
screen, that the 150 participants could see. When dozens of
ideas were up on screen, he asked participants to raise
their hands if they had seen at least one idea that they'd
not thought about before but would like to use. About 2/3 of
the participants raised their hands.
The task is below. You can
also
click here to download a Word version of this task.
Task: Improving
Learning at Presentation University
Imagine a university in which only one method
of teaching and learning is used. Students come to class and
sit in complete silence and take notes as they watch one
great lecture after another, in which faculty provide clear
and cogent explanations of material. Then students go to
their living quarters and read wonderfully written
textbooks. At the end of their four years, they take
examinations. And those are the only things that happen at
Presentation University.
The President of PU is unhappy with
examination results and with data about how well graduates
do in work and life after leaving PU. She has engaged you as
a consultant and asked you for advice that could be given to
every faculty member in every department. Can you suggest
any improvements in what faculty and students do?
Improvements in their activities that should improve
learning outcomes for PU students and graduates?
Step 1: Working alone, jot down all your
suggestions for changing what faculty and students do at PU.
Step 2: Turn to the person next to you,
introduce yourselves, and see if you can brainstorm
additional improvements.
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Seven Principles Home
Page l Gathering and Sharing Teaching Ideas
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