Interactive Learning:More Students Are More Active

Participants in More Learner Groups

By David G. Brown

Wake Forest University

@ Syllabus 99

Santa Clara, California

July 27, 1999

Who are the Authors?

• 93 vignettes

• 43 campuses

• 143 authors

Vignettes from Yahoo’s 100 Most Wired Campuses

• Intermediate German. Dartmouth• International Political Economy. Middlebury• Systems Analysis. NYU• Global Telecommunications. Temple• Writing. U of Missouri @ Rolla• Senior Biology Seminar. Hendrix• Physics for 500. Michigan State• Costume Museum Archives. Virginia• Anthropology. SUNY-Potsdam

Beliefs Pedagogy and Philosophy

• Interactive Learning

• Learn by Doing

• Collaborative Learning

• Integration of Theory and Practice

• Visualization

• Communication

• Different Strokes for Different Folks

Beliefs (less universal)Philosophy and Pedagogy

• Comparative Analysis• Role Playing• Engaging Subject Matter• Challenging Material• Repetition• Prompt Feedback• Student Initiative and Responsibility• Time on Task • Trust

Techniques and ToolsNew Options From Technology

• Web Pages for Every Course• E-Mail• Citations to the Web (URLs)• Team Projects• Collaborative Teaching• Simulations• Asynchronous Discussions• Virtual Courses

Tools and Technques(continued)

• Self-Paced Lectures• Self-Paced Exercises• Self-Paced Quizzes• Electronic Textbooks• Powerpoint Presentations• Multimedia Clips• Electronic Course Management• Publishing on the Web

Typology of Tools & Techniques

• For Increased Communication (8)

• For Interactive Learning (5)

• For Customization (4)

• For New Materials and Presentation Modes (9)

• For Electronic Course Management (5)

From Interactive Learning, Anker Publishing, 1999 (forthcoming)ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 1999ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 1999

For Increased Communication

• Web Pages for Course Materials• Email: Group and Individual• Asynchronous Discussion Groups• Hyperlinks to Related Materials• More Time for Class Discussion• Synchronous Chatrooms• Office Hours on Line• Consultants & Experts in Discussion

ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 1999ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 1999

For Interactive Learning

• Simulations

• Team Projects

• Student Web Pages

• Student Publishing on the Web

• Collaborative Teaching

ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 1999ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 1999

For Customization

• Self-Paced Exercises

• Virtual Courses (internet only)

• Self-Paced Lectures

• Self-Paced Quizzes

ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 1999ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 1999

For New Materials & Modes

• Citations to the Web (URLs)• PowerPoint & Multimedia Presentations• Lecture Notes on Line• Computer Skill Exercises• Cross-Cultural Analyses• Electronic Textbook• Cybershows• Custom CD-Rom• Archive of Images

ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 1999ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 1999

For Electronic Course Management

• Course Shell

• Group Email

• Electronic Gradebook

• Dynamic Syllabus

• On line grading

ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 1999ICCEL -- Wake Forest University, 1999

Assessment StrategiesHow Do We Know Its Better?

• Perceptions– Student– Faculty

• Behaviors

• Outcomes

Perceptions

By Students via• Formal Evaluations• Feedback and Hearsay

By Faculty via• Formal Evaluations• Observed Behavior/Performance

Behaviors• Metadata re Computer Use• Adoption By Others• Other Behaviors

Outcomes & Student Performance

• Matched Pairs Over Time• Matched Pairs Simultaneous• External “Tests”

MEASURES OF IMPACT

Major Conclusions

• Most Professors Use Computers to Increase Opportunities for Interactive Learning

• The Tools Needed for Interactive Learning Can Be Mastered with Little Time or Effort

• Both Faculty and Students Feel They Are Learning More and Liking It Better

David G. BrownWake Forest University

Winston-Salem, N.C. 27109336-758-4878

email: brown@wfu.eduhttp//:www.wfu.edu/~brown

fax: 336-758-4875