scholarly journals Measuring Engineering Faculty Views about Benefits and Costs of Using Student-Centered Strategies

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugene Judson ◽  
Lydia Ross ◽  
James Middleton ◽  
Stephen Krause
Keyword(s):  
Faculty Members ◽  
Formative Feedback ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
Engineering Faculty ◽  
Classroom Strategies ◽  
Class Time ◽  
Real World Applications ◽  
Cost Of Time ◽  
Benefits And Costs ◽  
Formal Class

Dispositions of 286 engineering faculty members were assessed to determine views about three student-centered classroom strategies and how frequently faculty used those strategies. The student-centered classroom strategies examined were: using formative feedback to adjust instruction, integrating real-world applications, and promoting student-to-student discussions during formal class time. The Value, Expectancy, and Cost of Testing Educational Reforms Survey (VECTERS), based on expectancy theory, was designed, tested, and validated for this purpose. Results indicate using strategies, such as formative feedback, are significantly tied to perceived benefits and expectation of success. Using student-centered strategies is inversely related to the perceived cost of implementation – with more frequent users perceiving lower cost of time and materials.

scholarly journals Embracing the flipped classroom: the planning and execution of a faculty workshop

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 648-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaya Gopalan ◽  
Georgia Bracey ◽  
Megan Klann ◽  
Cynthia Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Flipped Classroom ◽  
Teaching Method ◽  
Teaching Strategy ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Teaching Approach ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Faculty Workshop

A great deal of interest has emerged recently in the flipped classroom (FC), a student-centered teaching approach. After attending a presentation by the first author on the FC, a faculty member of a medical school in Mexico arranged for a 3-day workshop for 13 faculty members. The goal of the workshop was to train faculty to use the FC strategy in their classrooms to increase student engagement in learning. The workshop was in the FC style, where the participants would assume the role of students. Pre- and posttraining surveys were administered to examine participants’ current teaching practices and to evaluate their perceptions of the FC. The participants overwhelmingly reported the need to change their lecture-based teaching, as it was not engaging students. Their large class size, lack of technology, training, and uncertainty of the effectiveness of new teaching methods had hindered participants from changing their teaching technique. The on-site training not only allowed the entire department to work closely and discuss the new teaching approach, but also reinforced the idea of changing their teaching strategy and embracing FC teaching method. After the workshop, participants reported being determined to use the FC strategy in their classrooms and felt more prepared to do so. The post-survey results indicated that participants valued the FC training in the flipped style and wanted more of the hands-on activities. In conclusion, the 3-day faculty workshop on the FC was successful, since every participant was motivated to use this teaching method.

scholarly journals The effect of flipped teaching combined with modified team-based learning on student performance in physiology

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaya Gopalan ◽  
Megan C. Klann
Keyword(s):  
Student Performance ◽  
Student Attitudes ◽  
Flipped Classroom ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
Student Centered Learning ◽  
Innovative Teaching ◽  
Class Time ◽  
Teaching Format ◽  
Team Based Learning ◽  
Traditional Lectures

Flipped classroom is a hybrid educational format that shifts guided teaching out of class, thus allowing class time for student-centered learning. Although this innovative teaching format is gaining attention, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of flipped teaching on student performance. We compared student performance and student attitudes toward flipped teaching with that of traditional lectures using a partial flipped study design. Flipped teaching expected students to have completed preclass material, such as assigned reading, instructor-prepared lecture video(s), and PowerPoint slides. In-class activities included the review of difficult topics, a modified team-based learning (TBL) session, and an individual assessment. In the unflipped teaching format, students were given PowerPoint slides and reading assignment before their scheduled lectures. The class time consisted of podium-style lecture, which was captured in real time and was made available for students to use as needed. Comparison of student performance between flipped and unflipped teaching showed that flipped teaching improved student performance by 17.5%. This was true of students in both the upper and lower half of the class. A survey conducted during this study indicated that 65% of the students changed the way they normally studied, and 69% of the students believed that they were more prepared for class with flipped learning than in the unflipped class. These findings suggest that flipped teaching, combined with TBL, is more effective than the traditional lecture.

Smart Device Clickers

Biotechnology ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 1581-1606
Author(s):  
Érika Bertozzi de Aquino Mattos ◽  
Isabelle Mazza Guimarães ◽  
Alexander Gonçalves da Silva ◽  
Claudia Marcia Borges Barreto ◽  
Gerlinde Agate Platais Brasil Teixeira
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Smart Phone ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Smart Device ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
Student Centered Learning ◽  
Smart Glasses ◽  
Content Acquisition

In the traditional instructional paradigm, faculty members act like actors on a stage. They memorize their speech and deliver it to the audience, many times with very little to no interaction at all with the audience. On the other hand, in the student-centered learning paradigm, faculty members act like coaches interacting full time with their team. This chapter is based on a study conducted at a Brazilian Federal University. The study depicts the distance between science production and teaching, and reports on experiences using smart phone clickers to track and analyze students' content acquisition. The objective is to improve the interactive quality of teaching and learning, thus promoting steps to shift towards a student-centered instructional paradigm. Although smartphones were used in this study, with wearable technologies continuing to grow, other wearables such as smart glasses and smart watches could be used instead.

scholarly journals Engineering Faculty Indicate High Levels of Awareness and Use of the Library but Tend to Consult Google and Google Scholar First for Research Resources

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Sullo
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Web Search ◽  
The United States ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Google Scholar ◽  
Survey Questionnaire ◽  
State University ◽  
Engineering Faculty ◽  
Data Archiving ◽  
Library Resources

A Review of: Zhang, L. (2015). Use of library services by engineering faculty at Mississippi State University, a large land grant institution. Science & Technology Libraries, 34(3), 272-286. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0194262X.2015.1090941 Objective – To investigate the engineering faculty’s information-seeking behaviour, experiences, awareness, and use of the university library. Design – Web-based survey questionnaire. Setting – The main campus of a state university in the United States of America. Subjects – 119 faculty members within 8 engineering departments. Methods – An email invitation to participate in a 16-item electronic survey questionnaire, with questions related to library use, was sent in the spring of 2015 to 119 engineering faculty members. Faculty were given 24 days to complete the survey, and a reminder email was sent 10 days after the original survey invitation. Main Results – Thirty-eight faculty members responded to the survey, representing a response rate of 32%. Overall, faculty had a high level of use and awareness of both online and physical library resources and services, although their awareness of certain scholarly communication services, such as data archiving and copyright advisory, was significantly lower. Faculty tend to turn to Google and Google Scholar when searching for information rather than turning to library databases. Faculty do not use social media to keep up with library news and updates. The library website, as well as liaison librarians, were cited as the primary sources for this type of information. Conclusions – The researcher concludes that librarians need to do a better job of marketing library resources, such as discipline-specific databases, as well as other library search tools. Because faculty use web search engines as a significant source of information, the author proposes further research on this behaviour, and suggests more action to educate faculty on different search tools, their limitations, and effective use. As faculty indicated a general lack of interest in integrating information literacy into their classes, the researcher notes that librarians need to find ways to persuade faculty that this type of integrated instruction is beneficial for students’ learning and research needs. Faculty were aware of the library liaison program, so this baseline relationship between faculty and librarian can serve as an opportunity to build upon current liaison services and responsibilities.

scholarly journals Best practices in active and student-centered learning in physiology classes

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara E. Goodman ◽  
Megan K. Barker ◽  
James E. Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Teaching Approaches ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
Student Centered Learning ◽  
Physiology Students

This review article includes our analysis of the literature and our own experiences in using various types of active learning as best practices for evidence-based teaching in physiology. We have evaluated what physiology students should be expected to learn and what are specific challenges to enhancing their learning of physiology principles. We also consider how the instructor should design his or her teaching to improve buy-in from both students and other faculty members. We include a discussion of how the readers can evaluate their teaching approaches for their successes in enhancing student learning of physiology. Thus we have addressed pedagogical improvements specific to student learning of physiology, with additional suggestions from cognitive psychology approaches that can improve physiology teaching and learning.

A peer-led supplemental tutorial project for medical physiology: implementation in a large class

2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan D. Kibble
Keyword(s):  
Large Class ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Peer Tutors ◽  
High Expectations ◽  
Approval Ratings ◽  
Class Time ◽  
Tutoring Program ◽  
Tutorial Program ◽  
Facilitation Skills ◽  
Student Problem

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the practicality of implementing a peer-teaching program in a large class (>350 students) of medical students and whether such a program is beneficial. Case-based problems were developed by faculty members to facilitate student problem solving and discussion. Voluntary student enrollment was available during the first week of a semester. Tutorials took place during out of class time and were facilitated by peers from the previous class. Tutors were selected for their outstanding performance in physiology; they were provided with training in facilitation skills and were given a package of model answers. Sixty-eight students enrolled in this pilot program and were organized into groups of ∼8 students. On average, students attended four of six tutorials. Posttutorial quiz scores were significantly greater than paired pretest scores. Surveys showed that students had high expectations at the outset, which were matched with positive perceptions at the end of the tutorial program; the use of near-peer tutors was especially well received. Tutors also gave high approval ratings for their experiences. In conclusion, the peer tutoring program was logistically straightforward to implement in a large class and was endorsed by the participants.

scholarly journals DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF DESCRIPTORS FOR UNIVERSAL PROBLEM-ANALYSIS RUBRIC

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahar Memarian ◽  
Susan McCahan
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Problem Analysis ◽  
Evaluation Tool ◽  
Student Work ◽  
Engineering Faculty ◽  
Large Classes ◽  
Effective Feedback ◽  
Development And Validation

Abstract –This paper describes the process for creating and validating descriptors for a universal problem-analysis rubric. Our objective is to create descriptors that provide effective feedback to students on assessments that have been designed to elicit the demonstration of metacognitive problem-analysis skills.  Building on previously tested and validated indicators as well as benchmarking descriptors from credible and cited rubrics (e.g. the VALUE rubrics), the descriptors were developed through decomposition of global outcome statements and expansion into separate dimensions. The descriptors were then iteratively revised through consultation with faculty experts who teach in fields where assessment of problem-analysis is common. This involved individual faculty and focus group sessions held with engineering faculty members.  The universal problem-analysis rubric created could serve as a resource for engineering faculty to accompany their problem-analysis learning activities (e.g. problem sets) and to elicit student work that is aligned with learning outcomes students need to demonstrate to fulfill CEAB assessment needs. They could also use them as an evaluation tool to increase consistency and reliability of evaluation especially in large classes with multiple assessors.  

scholarly journals Bridging the Gap between the Research Ethics Board and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew A. Schnurr ◽  
Alanna Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Research Ethics ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
Student Work ◽  
Class Time ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Data Source ◽  
Research Ethics Board

In 2016, Dalhousie University’s Research Ethics Board created an interdisciplinary working group to identify the key ethical challenges of SoTL research, with the overarching aim of recommending best practices and communicating these to researchers in order to support and expand the conduct of ethically sound SoTL research. This essay reflects on the lessons learned through this process and shines a light on the three most contentious arenas that emerged: using class time to conduct SoTL research, integrating Students Ratings of Instruction (SRI) into SoTL, and incorporating student work as a data source. This essay contributes to the emerging conversation around ethical SoTL research in two important ways. First, we argue for more lenient REB protocols that encourage SoTL research by exposing how restrictive interpretations of key issues serve as obstacles for student-centered research. Second, we introduce new tools designed to address these impediments, including the first-ever interactive user guide. The overarching aims of this essay are (a) to help SoTL researchers navigate this complex terrain, and (b) to encourage other Canadian REBs to consider implementing more permissive regimes.

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