Fostering learning-centered experiences

with web-based technology.

Fostering learning-centered experiences

with web-based technology.

Donald P. Buckley, Ph.D.Donald P. Buckley, Ph.D.Associate Professor of BiologyAssociate Professor of Biology

Director of Instructional Technology, School of Health SciencesDirector of Instructional Technology, School of Health SciencesQuinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac UniversityHamden, CT 06518Hamden, CT 06518

don.buckley@quinnipiac.edudon.buckley@quinnipiac.eduhttp://faculty.quinnipiac.edu/health/biology/buckley/welcome.htmlhttp://faculty.quinnipiac.edu/health/biology/buckley/welcome.html

SICB 2001SICB 20016 January 2001, Chicago IL6 January 2001, Chicago IL

A Revolution in Education?

1. Poor student performances1. Poor student performances

Have provoked soul-searching about learning and teachingHave provoked soul-searching about learning and teaching

Emergence of the Learning ParadigmEmergence of the Learning Paradigm

2. The 2. The Decade of the BrainDecade of the Brain::

New insights about the cognitive development of learningNew insights about the cognitive development of learning

3. Computing tools facilitate3. Computing tools facilitate

Simulation, data collection/analysis, comm., & authoringSimulation, data collection/analysis, comm., & authoring

AssessmentAssessment

““What we need to learn beforeWhat we need to learn before doing, we learn by doing.”doing, we learn by doing.”

Aristotle

Where Are We Going?

Instructional ParadigmInstructional Paradigm

Learning ParadigmLearning Paradigm

the Learning Paradigm

Active Learning

Critical Inquiry & Synthesis

Cognitive Development of Learning

Multiple Intelligences - Multiple learning Styles

Assessment of Learning Outcomes - Mindful Engagement

Emphasis: Learning Outcomes ...Not Content Delivery

Pedagogical Principles

Students need to build meaning

Learning should be inquiry-oriented

Student experiences should be learning-centered

Learning should be socially situated

Pedagogical Innovation must be coupled to institutional change processes

Faculty development should be transformational

A Dilemma

Coverage

Learning& Inquiry

NOW

Emphasis on Delivery of Content

Emphasis on Effective Learning

A Solution to the Dilemma?

GOAL

Coverage

Emphasis on Delivery of Content

Learning& Inquiry

Emphasis on Effective Learning

How?

One Approach...

COMMUNICATING

VISUALIZING

ANALYZING

MODELING

DATACOLLECTION

Technology can be an Enabler

COMMUNITYOF

LEARNERS

SIMULATING

BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium

Overview

• Pedagogical Feature Set of Advanced Instructional Technology• Interactivity fosters active learning

• Sensory rich information formats enable brain-based teaching/learning

• Computers facilitate routine assessment

• Course Management Systems• Web-delivered content

• Routine assessment

• Communication tools to promote cooperative learning styles

• Faculty Development• Technology integration …to serve learning-centered pedagogies

• Transition to the Learning Paradigm

• Faculty development should be transformational & community wide

A Promising Tool:

The Interactive Multimedia Feature Set

• • InteractiveInteractive Multimedia: Multimedia: foster active-learning experiencesfoster active-learning experiences

• • Interactive Interactive MultimediaMultimedia: : engage cognitive processesengage cognitive processes

• • Computer component:Computer component:integrate powerful assessment toolsintegrate powerful assessment tools

Goals of Assessment

• Mindful engagement ...”chunking” contentMindful engagement ...”chunking” content

• Provide feedbackProvide feedback

• Build incentive systemsBuild incentive systems

• Collect diagnostic clues about Collect diagnostic clues about individualindividual needs needs

Assessment Tools in Education Technology

Open-endedassessment styles

Structured assessmentstyles

Utility ofUtility ofCompetingCompeting

AssessmentAssessmentStylesStyles

LearnFactsLearnFacts

LearnInquiryLearn

InquiryLearn

Concepts

LearnConcept

s

main learning goal

foundational information

Examples

Back to the Coverage Dilemma

GOAL

Coverage

Emphasis on Delivery of Content

Learning& Inquiry

Emphasis on Effective Learning

Registrar

CMS Database

Course Management Systems:The Enabling Technology

Infrastructure?

Faculty

Content Comm Tools Assessment

Student Experience on the Web

Some Emergent Differences:Traditional versus Web-assisted

Content

Communication

Assessment

LectureContent delivery

ActivitiesProblem-basedProject-basedCase-based

Episodic PervasiveRoutine reflection within and among

teams

Summative Formative

Traditional Web-assisted

Can we use technology to mitigate

the Coverage Dilemma?

Routine Online Assessment In Class

TraditionalApproach

WebAssisted

Foundational InformationInquiry-orientation and powerful pedagogies

smart tutor homework

A Coverage Dilemma Fix?

• Reduce class time commitment to foundational information

• Move the authority of learning foundational information to student time

• Use “smart tutors”, assessment-rich web homework assignments

• Feature set of assessment systems:o Real-time feedbacko Incentive systems to foster competency-based learning

standardso Collection of diagnostic clues about individual and class

learning needs

• To allow more attention to powerful learning-centered and inquiry-oriented pedagogies in class

S U M M A R Y

• We need to integrate pedagogies that are learning-centered and inquiry-oriented.

• Interactive, sensory-rich, assessment-rich technology learning environments can foster these goals

• Communication technology and authoring tools can promote cooperative learning experiences and help students to build meaning, when coupled with pedagogies such as case-based and problem-based learning

• The Coverage Dilemma. These time-intensive pedagogies are commonly viewed as a conflict with coverage demands. However, assessment-rich web “homework” systems may be able to move the coverage of foundational information to student time with a competency-based learning standard, making room for more learning-centered and inquiry-oriented pedagogies in class time.

• New course management systems will provide an enabling technology infrastructure.

Fostering learning-centered experiences

with web-based technology.

Fostering learning-centered experiences

with web-based technology.

Donald P. Buckley, Ph.D.Donald P. Buckley, Ph.D.Associate Professor of BiologyAssociate Professor of Biology

Director of Instructional Technology, School of Health SciencesDirector of Instructional Technology, School of Health SciencesQuinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac UniversityHamden, CT 06518Hamden, CT 06518

don.buckley@quinnipiac.edudon.buckley@quinnipiac.eduhttp://faculty.quinnipiac.edu/health/biology/buckley/welcome.htmlhttp://faculty.quinnipiac.edu/health/biology/buckley/welcome.html

SICB 2001SICB 20016 January 2001, Chicago IL6 January 2001, Chicago IL

Learning Paradigm Instructional Paradigm

• Student-centered • Teacher-centered

• Emphasis on learning • Emphasis on content delivery

• Problem-based • Content-based

• Open-ended problems • Closed-ended problems

• Epistemology/Hypotheses • Answers

• Formative assessment • Summative Assessment

Supporting Inquiry Learning

Motivating context

Learner appropriate activity

Data collection

Scaffolding interfaces

Support for learning

Edelson, Gordon, Pea, 1997

Is There A Revolution in the Is There A Revolution in the Academy ?Academy ?

1. Poor student performances have provoked soul-searching1. Poor student performances have provoked soul-searching

the Learning Paradigmthe Learning Paradigm

2. From the “Decade of the Brain”,2. From the “Decade of the Brain”,

the cognitive development of the cognitive development of

learninglearning

3. Educational interactive multimedia technology:3. Educational interactive multimedia technology:

a platform for all kinds of cool stuffa platform for all kinds of cool stuff

Overview

• Pedagogical Feature Set of Advanced Instructional Technology• Interactivity fosters active learning

• Sensory rich information formats enable brain-based teaching/learning

• Computers facilitate routine assessment

• Course Management Systems• Web-delivered content

• Routine assessment

• Communication tools to promote cooperative learning styles

• Faculty Development• Technology integration …to serve learning-centered pedagogies

• Transition to the Learning Paradigm

• Faculty development should be transformational …authoring

A Revolution in Education?

1. Poor student performances1. Poor student performances

Have provoked soul-searching about learning and teachingHave provoked soul-searching about learning and teaching

Resulting in the Learning ParadigmResulting in the Learning Paradigm

2. The 2. The Decade of the BrainDecade of the Brain::

New insights about the cognitive development of learningNew insights about the cognitive development of learning

3. Computing tools facilitate3. Computing tools facilitate

Emulation, analysis, communication, and authoringEmulation, analysis, communication, and authoring

Routine assessment, varied stylesRoutine assessment, varied styles