Creating Significant Learning Experiences Mandeep Singh Roger Runquist

Creating Significant Learning Experiences Mandeep Singh Roger Runquist

Profile of our Incoming Class BELOIT COLLEGE'S MINDSET LIST®FOR THE CLASS OF 2011

Significant learning experiences • In a powerful learning experience students will be engaged in their own learning and there will be a high level of energy associated with it. Characteristics of significant learning experiences Process: • Engaged: Students are engaged in their learning. • High energy: Class has a high energy level.

New Paradigms for Teaching Old Paradigm New paradigm Knowledge Transferred from Jointly constructed by faculty to students and faculty Student Passive vessel to be filled by faculty’s knowledge Active constructor, discoverer, transformer of knowledge Mode of learning Memorizing Relating Faculty purpose Classify and sort students Develop student’s competencies and talents

Old Paradigm New paradigm Context Competitive, individualistic Cooperative learning in classroom and cooperative teams among faculty Climate Conformity, cultural uniformity Diversity and personal esteem; cultural diversity and commonality Epistemology Reductionist; facts Constructivist; inquiry and memorization invention Technology use Drill and practice; textbook substitute; chalkand-talk substitute Problem solving, communication, collaboration, information access, expression Teaching assumption Any expert can teach Teaching is complex and requires considerable training

Passive and Active Learning Passive Learning Receiving Information & Ideas Active Learning Experiences • Doing • Observing Reflection On what one is learning and how one is learning Alone, with others

A Holistic View of Active Learning • The holistic view of active learning suggests an effective set of learning activities is one that includes activities from each of the three components of active learning: information and ideas, experiences, and reflection. Specific Activities That Promote Active Learning Getting information and Ideas • Students get information and ideas through indirect mode when they read a book or listen to a series of lectures which are organized by a textbook writer or the lecturer. • Students can get information through direct mode by reading original sources and examine original data which have not yet been fully analyzed and interpreted by others.

“Doing” Experiences • There are doing experiences and observing experiences. • Direct doing experiences consist of students engaging in a real action in an authentic setting. • Indirect doing experiences utilize the means of case studies, gaming, simulations, and role playing provide students with a vicarious form of doing. Reflection • After students have encountered new information and ideas and had new experiences, they need to reflect in order to decide what meaning to give these other learning activities.

BELOIT COLLEGE'S MINDSET LIST® FOR THE CLASS OF 2011 �What Berlin wall? �Humvees, minus the artillery, have always been available to the public. �Rush Limbaugh and the “Dittoheads” have always been lambasting liberals. �They have never “rolled down” a car window.

�Michael Moore has always been angry and funny. �They may confuse the Keating Five with a rock group. �They have grown up with bottled water. �General Motors has always been working on an electric car.

�Nelson Mandela has always been free and a force in South Africa. �Pete Rose has never played baseball. � back