Above
(With apologies for the out-of-focus picture) Dr. Naomi Lawhorn (right)
chats with Dr. Eison before the workshop. Dr. Eison contributed
several good ideas in his conversation with Dr. Lawhorn after the
workshop, as well as during his dinner conversation with Claude Stevens
and Eric Hibbison, drawing from his reading and from his visits to several
colleges where he has done presentations. |
 In
an informal poll, over half of those present at this workshop reported
using student groups for their courses.
 | Use groups for tasks that require teamwork, such as practice
exercises. |
| Groups work best when each group has a segment of the answered to a
multi-faceted question. [Remember "jigsaw,"
a group method of interdependence that we sampled in the January,
2002, workshop by Roger Mackey?] |
| Based on experience, one practitioner of group instruction stated,
a group's dynamics change across the semester such that if they
are truly dependent on each other for knowledge and grades,
stereotypical treatment will give way to talent and cooperation. |
| Anthony Grasha concludes from his research that learning style
preferences are acquired and not rigid, so they can be
changed. |
| See an application
of Grasha's work on teaching styles to teaching online and
website/course design at the Indiana University Center for Teaching
and Learning (CTL). Note especially that in Grasha's
"clusters" mixes of styles interact. You can also take
a 40-question teaching style inventory on one course at a time
to see how your teaching
style may vary from course to course. 
Dr. Anthony Grasha
(pictured at left) |
|
1999