Dr. Tanya McCossDr. Tanya McCossDr. Tanya McCossDr. Tanya McCoss----YeriganYeriganYeriganYerigan

Most Memorable Learning: Secrets RevealedMost Memorable Learning: Secrets RevealedMost Memorable Learning: Secrets RevealedMost Memorable Learning: Secrets Revealed

IJAS International Conference IJAS International Conference IJAS International Conference IJAS International Conference

March 2011March 2011March 2011March 2011

Background & PurposeBackground & PurposeBackground & PurposeBackground & Purpose

� Engage Educators in Critical Reflection

� Facilitate Educator Discussion

� Create Learning Opportunities

� 12 Year Longitudinal Study

� 302 K-12 Educators

Research GoalsResearch GoalsResearch GoalsResearch Goals� Determine Impact of Educational Experiences

� Determine Classroom Applications

Research SampleResearch SampleResearch SampleResearch Sample

� 302 Practicing K-12 Educators

� Graduate School Students

� Rural Midwestern School District Employees

MethodsMethodsMethodsMethods� Mixed Methodology: Qualitative & Quantitative

� Series of Semi-Structured Open-Ended Interview

Questions� Self-Reflection (302 individual reflections)

� Focus Group Discussion

(60 small groups w/a average size of 5)

� Large Group Reporting, Probing & Discussion

(10 w/average of 30 educators present at each)

MethodsMethodsMethodsMethods

Individual Reflection

Focus Group Discussions

Large Group Discussion

New Understanding

Self ReflectionSelf ReflectionSelf ReflectionSelf Reflection

Written Reflections - 5 Minutes Each

Question #1: As a learner, what were your best learning

experiences?

Question #2: As a learner, what were your worst learning

experiences?

Question #3: What was the deciding factor that prompted you to

select education as a career?

Phase 1Phase 1Phase 1Phase 1

Focus Group DevelopmentFocus Group DevelopmentFocus Group DevelopmentFocus Group Development

� Self-Selected Focus Groups

� Diversity Emphasis� Geographic

� School District

� Discipline

� Age

� Experience (years teaching)

� Gender

Phase Phase Phase Phase 11111111

Focus Groups TasksFocus Groups TasksFocus Groups TasksFocus Groups Tasks

� Select Recorder/Speaker

� Share & Discuss Written Reflections

� Develop Comprehensive Lists of Responses (Separate list for each of the three open-ended questions)

Phase Phase Phase Phase 11 Continued11 Continued11 Continued11 Continued

Large Group Sharing Large Group Sharing Large Group Sharing Large Group Sharing

� Researcher Posts Three Sheets of Newsprint

(each interview question at the top of a separate sheet)

� Researcher Facilitates Large Group Discussion

w/Smaller Focus Groups Reporting

� Facilitator Records Key Experiences & Checks

for Understanding

Phase Phase Phase Phase 111111111111

Most Significant FindingMost Significant FindingMost Significant FindingMost Significant Finding100% of responses

were directly focused on a

TEACHER!

� This demonstrates the profound responsibility

teachers have…whether they want it or not.

Question #1:ResponsesQuestion #1:ResponsesQuestion #1:ResponsesQuestion #1:ResponsesKnew Content

Home Visits

Reasonable

Attended Events

Took Time w/M

eUnderstood…

Inspiring

Parent-Like

Life Experience

Welcoming

Flexible

Loved Teaching

Passionate

Valued Student…

High Expectations

Role Model

Celebrated…

Personal Stories

Personal Connection

Believed in Me

Hands on

Experiential

Discussion Based

Fair

Helpful

Remembered…

Compassionate

Interested

Humorous

Fun

Respectful

Caring

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Teachers…

A Few Significant FindingsA Few Significant FindingsA Few Significant FindingsA Few Significant Findings

� 302 Participants

� 5,927 Responses (average of 20 responses each)

� .03% (2 of 5,927) CONTENT

� 99.97% (5,925 of 5,927) SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL

� 99% of Participants Indicated CARING

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Social 300

Content 2

Best Learning ExperiencesBest Learning ExperiencesBest Learning ExperiencesBest Learning Experiences

Social/Emotional vs. Content/Curriculum

STATISTICAL

FINDINGS:

.7% (less than 1%)

Report

Best Learning

Experiences are

Content/Curriculum

Based

99.3% Report

Best Learning

Experiences are

Social/Emotional Based

Question #2: ResponsesQuestion #2: ResponsesQuestion #2: ResponsesQuestion #2: Responses� Responses to Question #2 were, with over 95%

accuracy, the exact opposite response of Question

#1.

� For example: If a subject responded to #1 stating

humorous, for #2 he stated no sense of humor.

FindingsFindingsFindingsFindings

� If another teacher intervened with a student who

had a “worst learning experience”, it ultimately

became a positive learning experience.

� Example

Question #3: FindingsQuestion #3: FindingsQuestion #3: FindingsQuestion #3: Findings

What was the deciding factor that made you go into education?

248225

154 148

6347

13

0

50

100

150

200

250

300Loves Kids

Promotes FamilyLifePositive LearningExperienceNegative LearningExperienceAbility to Coach

Family of Educators

Summers Off

Question #3: FindingsQuestion #3: FindingsQuestion #3: FindingsQuestion #3: Findings� There is little statistical difference in the number of

participants selecting the field of education due to negative

learning experience versus a positive learning experiences.

� 51% of participants who had a positive learning

experience, stated that they decided to be an educator to

provide others with the same quality experience they had.

� 49% of participants who had a negative learning

experience, stated that they decided to be an educator to

provide others with a more positive experience than they

had.

� These masters-level educators expected the reported experiences to be

predominantly content-based.

� All 302 participants expressed shock over the results.

� The power a teacher holds extends far beyond the delivery of content or

subject matter.

� Each of the 10 large group discussions and 60 focus group discussions

yielded very similar statistics when compared to the overall findings.

� The geographic location within the Midwest did NOT make a difference

when compared to the overall findings.

� The most powerful realization from the participants is best summarized

in the following quote…

Large Group Final ThoughtsLarge Group Final ThoughtsLarge Group Final ThoughtsLarge Group Final Thoughts

Students Don’t Care

What You Know…

Until They Know

You Care!

What What What What ddddoes this all oes this all oes this all oes this all mmmmean?ean?ean?ean?

Classroom LessonsClassroom LessonsClassroom LessonsClassroom Lessons

� The most memorable learning takes place within

relationships - - establish them with your students!

� A caring atmosphere is foundational for learning- -

don’t skip this. Build this foundation by integrating

caring gestures into the curriculum!

Once you’ve established a caring atmosphere and built a

relationship, the stage is set for learning.

Questions