|
|
|
|
Annette: Just curious; do you have SI or a similar program. SI has been very
well received here at Pitt by the Stats department. In fact, the department head
asked for SI in all the statistics course; unfortunately we cannot accommodate
that. It would be a way to incorporate coop learning for students that want
extra learning time.Barb
Annette Gourgey wrote:
> Hi Ted and others,
>
> Ted and I have discussed this off-list. There is only one problem I have
> had, and continue to have, in implementing techniques such as collaborative
> learning. I have still never found a solution, so would welcome comments
> and suggestions.
>
> I get no opposition from other faculty or from students. The problem is
> time. I teach a statistics course with a long syllabus in a 2.5-hour/week
> format. The time frame and syllabus are clearly designed for fast lecture.
> The course has a reputation for going too fast and students dread taking it.
>
> I have tried CL and feel some laboratory format is necessary to learn this
> material well, but it necessarily takes more time for students to wrestle
> with the problems this way. I have already cut several topics to allow room
> for this, but there is a limit to how much I can cut without doing violence
> to the course and what it is a prerequisite for.
>
> The result is that I do some cooperative problem solving but not nearly as
> much as I would like for students' active learning. On the positive side,
> my course is extremely well received even with the limited amount of CL,
> students say it allays their anxieties, and their exam performance is
> generally good. That tells me I'm on the right track, but I sure wish I
> could squeeze in more lab for deeper understanding.
>
> Sorry I don't have any solutions, only a question. Has anyone else
> struggled with this, and how have you tried to deal with it?
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: ted panitz <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, August 04, 2000 10:12 PM
> Subject: A midsummer nights question
>
> > Hi Listers,
> >
> > Have you had to overcome obstacles to implementing student centered
> > learning techniques?
> >
> > I thought it would be interesting to hear from people who have had
> > to overcome problems when you initially implemented student centered
> > learning approaches such as cooperative or collaborative learning,
> > problem or project based learning, inquiry based learning, etc. Have you
> > had problems with students, administrators, other teachers, evaluations,
> > etc?????? We have discussed reasons why cooperative learning is resisted
> > by administrators, students, other teachers, and parents (K-12). What
> > have you done to address some of the resistance factors and how have you
> > persisted in the face of difficulties or challenges.
> >
> > Please leave no stone unturned. Even little problems you have dealt
> > with would be helpful to hear about for teachers starting out with
> > student centered learning and/or for those who are experienced but have
> > not yet encountered your particular problem.
> >
> > Please respond to the list to generate additional discussion on this
> > topic or e-mail me directly. I will archive the responses on my web
> > site. Thanks in advance for your collaboration.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Ted
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> > http://_tedscooppage.homestead.com/index.html
> >
> > MY less than cooperative encounter with Attilla the department chair
> >
> > For the first 6 years of my tenure and Cape Cod Community College
> > and prior to that I developed an interactive lecture format for
> > teaching. Lots of lecturing with questions for individual students
> > interspersed during the lecture. After starting a doctoral program
> > (1982) where I had the opportunity to use cooperative and collaborative
> > learning techniques I began introducing these approaches into my
> > engineering and mathematics courses. This is where my story begins and
> > my evaluations from my department chair changed.
> >
> > I encountered problems mainly from my department chair, who was
> > supported by the academic dean, when I initially switched from an
> > interactive lecture format to a cooperative learning approach. The
> > transition did not take place overnight but evolved over several years.
> > However, when I first started to make the transition I received
> > criticisms from my department chairman after a few class observations.
> > He felt that the classes were noisy, students were not always focussed
> > on the material (mathematics), and I did not lecture enough. These
> > observations were made despite the fact that I had met with the chair
> > prior to the class evaluation to make sure he was aware of the changes I
> > had made in my class procedures. We met after the class and I explained
> > the reasons for his observations and how they fit into the overall
> > cooperative learning strategy. He gave me a very poor evaluation with
> > many references for the need to change what I was doing. I followed up
> > by providing him with many published studies on cooperative learning, to
> > no avail. It turns out that he had been a biology professor at a 4 year
> > college and essentially "retired" to my community college. His teaching
> > method was straight lecture and his demeanor made it clear that he
> > didn't encourage student questions or any other class participation. He
> > also seemed to revel in the "power" of the department chair.
> >
> > A second approach I used, and still do, annoyed him to no end. I
> > encourage my students to use first names including mine. He considered
> > this to be totally unprofessional. His only rationale was that students
> > would not respect me if was on a familiar name basis with them. My
> > explanation fell on deaf ears, that my use of first names sends the
> > message to the students that I do not consider myself above them, but I
> > see students as peers. I just happen to have studied more mathematics
> > and teaching techniques than they have. I base this approach on my own
> > experiences in collaborative graduate education classes where the
> > professor encouraged us to use his first name. I felt quite
> > uncomfortable at first because this approach was a deviation from the
> > norm, which most other professors had established. Cooperative learning
> > allows and encourages students to experiment in a safe environment.
> > After a while I came to appreciate the use of first names in classes.
> > When I finished a course I felt that I was indeed approaching peer
> > status with the teacher. Think of how subservient you feel when you
> > enter a doctor's office and must address the person as Dr X. I went to a
> > holistic doctor and the first thing he did to put me at ease was to
> > suggest I call him by his first name. Quite a difference! My chairman
> > was very strict about the use of names and insisted upon being called
> > professor. I my classes I encourage all students to use my first name
> > but I do not insist upon it. I want them to figure out what they feel
> > comfortable with. For younger students and recent high school graduates
> > whom we expect to act like adults need to be treated as adults. I do not
> > use titles when I speak to my colleagues because we treat each other
> > with respect (most of the time) as we should our students. As an aside,
> > one of the things that most disturbed my son as a senior honor student
> > in high school was that he had to ask for a hall pass to go to the
> > bathroom or see his advisor. He clearly articulated the contradiction of
> > setting high expectations for students yet controlling their every
> > movement.
> >
> > To make a long story longer, I appealed the chair's poor evaluation
> > to the president of the college and invited him to visit my classes to
> > make his own evaluation. After completing three visits the president
> > wrote a very strong recommendation which highlighted the value he
> > observed in the student conversations and interactions. He removed the
> > chairman's critical evaluation from my personnel file. He also made it
> > clear that he thought the chairman should consider changing his teaching
> > approach and maybe I could assist him in that effort. That took care of
> > the problem and I have not had any problems since.
> >
> > The chairman has long since retired and I now have a very supportive
> > Associate Dean who evaluates my teaching. Perhaps it was my bad luck to
> > have started using cooperative learning techniques during this persons
> > stint as chairman, but in the end his challenge strengthened my resolve,
> > caused me to reflect critically on my philosophy of teaching and
> > learning, and defend my methodology, which I observed was having a very
> > positive effect upon the students.
> >
> > The whole evaluation resolution took about 6 months to resolve,
> > during which time there was a high degree of tension between myself and
> > the department chair. Looking back I can see that my resolve was not
> > only strengthened by my concern for doing what was best for my students
> > but also by the fact that I had received tenure the year before and
> > could not be fired capriciously because of one person's recommendation
> > plus our union contract has a strong academic freedom clause which
> > allows us to chose what ever teaching technique we wish.
> >
> > Over the years I have increased my use of cooperative learning in
> > all my classes to the point where I use this approach virtually 100% of
> > the time. This works well for me. Each individual must decide to what
> > extent they wish to involve their students in their classes and then
> > take what ever actions are necessary to support their approach.
--
Barbara M. Stout
Supplemental Instructional Specialist
The Learning Center
The University of Pittsburgh
311 Wm. Pitt Union
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
412-648-7920
[log in to unmask]
"You must do the things you think you cannot do."
Eleanor Roosevelt
|
|
|
Archives |
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011, Week 3
January 2011, Week 2
January 2011, Week 1
January 2011
December 2010, Week 5
December 2010, Week 4
December 2010, Week 3
December 2010, Week 2
December 2010, Week 1
November 2010, Week 5
November 2010, Week 4
November 2010, Week 3
November 2010, Week 2
November 2010, Week 1
October 2010, Week 5
October 2010, Week 4
October 2010, Week 3
October 2010, Week 2
October 2010, Week 1
September 2010, Week 5
September 2010, Week 4
September 2010, Week 3
September 2010, Week 2
September 2010, Week 1
August 2010, Week 5
August 2010, Week 4
August 2010, Week 3
August 2010, Week 2
August 2010, Week 1
July 2010, Week 5
July 2010, Week 4
July 2010, Week 3
July 2010, Week 2
July 2010, Week 1
June 2010, Week 5
June 2010, Week 4
June 2010, Week 3
June 2010, Week 2
June 2010, Week 1
May 2010, Week 4
May 2010, Week 3
May 2010, Week 2
May 2010, Week 1
April 2010, Week 5
April 2010, Week 4
April 2010, Week 3
April 2010, Week 2
April 2010, Week 1
March 2010, Week 5
March 2010, Week 4
March 2010, Week 3
March 2010, Week 2
March 2010, Week 1
February 2010, Week 4
February 2010, Week 3
February 2010, Week 2
February 2010, Week 1
January 2010, Week 5
January 2010, Week 4
January 2010, Week 3
January 2010, Week 2
January 2010, Week 1
December 2009, Week 5
December 2009, Week 4
December 2009, Week 3
December 2009, Week 2
December 2009, Week 1
November 2009, Week 5
November 2009, Week 4
November 2009, Week 3
November 2009, Week 2
November 2009, Week 1
October 2009, Week 5
October 2009, Week 4
October 2009, Week 3
October 2009, Week 2
October 2009, Week 1
September 2009, Week 5
September 2009, Week 4
September 2009, Week 3
September 2009, Week 2
September 2009, Week 1
August 2009, Week 5
August 2009, Week 4
August 2009, Week 3
August 2009, Week 2
August 2009, Week 1
July 2009, Week 5
July 2009, Week 4
July 2009, Week 3
July 2009, Week 2
July 2009, Week 1
June 2009, Week 5
June 2009, Week 4
June 2009, Week 3
June 2009, Week 2
June 2009, Week 1
May 2009, Week 5
May 2009, Week 4
May 2009, Week 3
May 2009, Week 2
May 2009, Week 1
April 2009, Week 5
April 2009, Week 4
April 2009, Week 3
April 2009, Week 2
April 2009, Week 1
March 2009, Week 5
March 2009, Week 4
March 2009, Week 3
March 2009, Week 2
March 2009, Week 1
February 2009, Week 4
February 2009, Week 3
February 2009, Week 2
February 2009, Week 1
January 2009, Week 5
January 2009, Week 4
January 2009, Week 3
January 2009, Week 2
January 2009, Week 1
December 2008, Week 5
December 2008, Week 4
December 2008, Week 3
December 2008, Week 2
December 2008, Week 1
November 2008, Week 5
November 2008, Week 4
November 2008, Week 3
November 2008, Week 2
November 2008, Week 1
October 2008, Week 5
October 2008, Week 4
October 2008, Week 3
October 2008, Week 2
October 2008, Week 1
September 2008, Week 5
September 2008, Week 4
September 2008, Week 3
September 2008, Week 2
September 2008, Week 1
August 2008, Week 5
August 2008, Week 4
August 2008, Week 3
August 2008, Week 2
August 2008, Week 1
July 2008, Week 5
July 2008, Week 4
July 2008, Week 3
July 2008, Week 2
July 2008, Week 1
June 2008, Week 5
June 2008, Week 4
June 2008, Week 3
June 2008, Week 2
June 2008, Week 1
May 2008, Week 5
May 2008, Week 4
May 2008, Week 3
May 2008, Week 2
May 2008, Week 1
April 2008, Week 5
April 2008, Week 4
April 2008, Week 3
April 2008, Week 2
April 2008, Week 1
March 2008, Week 5
March 2008, Week 4
March 2008, Week 3
March 2008, Week 2
March 2008, Week 1
February 2008, Week 5
February 2008, Week 4
February 2008, Week 3
February 2008, Week 2
February 2008, Week 1
January 2008, Week 5
January 2008, Week 4
January 2008, Week 3
January 2008, Week 2
January 2008, Week 1
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003
January 2003
December 2002
November 2002
October 2002
September 2002
August 2002
July 2002
June 2002
May 2002
April 2002
March 2002
February 2002
January 2002
December 2001
November 2001
October 2001
September 2001
August 2001
July 2001
June 2001
May 2001
April 2001
March 2001
February 2001
January 2001
December 2000
November 2000
October 2000
September 2000
August 2000
July 2000
June 2000
May 2000
April 2000
March 2000
February 2000
January 2000
December 1999
November 1999
October 1999
September 1999
August 1999
July 1999
June 1999
May 1999
April 1999
March 1999
February 1999
January 1999
December 1998
November 1998
October 1998
September 1998
August 1998
July 1998
June 1998
May 1998
April 1998
March 1998
February 1998
January 1998
December 1997
November 1997
October 1997
September 1997
August 1997
July 1997
June 1997
May 1997
April 1997
March 1997
February 1997
January 1997
December 1996
November 1996
October 1996
September 1996
August 1996
July 1996
June 1996
May 1996
April 1996
March 1996
February 1996
January 1996
December 1995
November 1995
October 1995
September 1995
August 1995
July 1995
June 1995
May 1995
April 1995
March 1995
February 1995
January 1995
|
|
