How to introduce a pro-active learning in academic institutions with long practice of non-active spoon-feeding learning style?
Eduard, this isn't easy ;-) However, depending on your faculty, there are lots of fun ways to do more with your time with students. Some simple ways to consider this might be to introduce some of the "game" type elements that allow you to still focus on multiple choice ideas, but the student is actively engaged in answering. this can be sold from the perspective of "testing" student understanding of material just given and of supporting a "pre-test" concept to help you shape your information.
The other things I've done that are fun are to get more creative with powerpoint delivery. YOu can create a type of game by linking "answer" slides to a set of questions. Bringing simulation into the classroom in simple ways can be fun too. For example, when I teach Motivational Interviewing, I like students to pair up and practice and even cell phone record their conversation to get/give feedback to each other :-) Lots of fun.
Finally, checking in on satisfaction can be a 1 minute survey of what stood out to the students that lecture &/or what question they may still have. I gain a lot from feedback from students on what works best for them by asking these types of questions at the end of a term or a lecture. There is so much out there on these types of possibilities.
To reflect on the realaity you are facing, I want to share I worked for a university where "new" presentation ideas were seriously frowned on and and gathering data on waht students wanted did help, however, I eventually left because it became too uncomfortable ;-) good luck!!!
Thank you Katlyn, indeed this is quite challenging issue for many of our colleagues all over. Whilst working in South Korea, I remember visiting UCLA, University of Washington, U of Minnesota and Indiana U with my Korean Colleague and Dean of College. With colleagues in US, we then (2013-2014) discuss the introduction of new trends in pro-active education at top-ranking universities in US, similar to teaching models at Oxford, Cambridge, St.Andrew, and others in UK and EU. Naturally, students at these universities may be quite different from most of the students elsewhere. Different in a sense of their academic background and particular set of skills required for admission to universities such as MIT, Harvard, and similar top universities. However, I do believe that each student regardless of being a top or not, with proper training and education is capable to grow and to become exceptionally skilled and capable. Naturally, this may be difficult to do by any Faculty colleague(s) without having proper university support and learning infrastructure. I also believe that the future best minds may be found just at very ordinary schools if they are properly trained and educated by passionate Faculty who will get a proper support to educate and to inspire all students.
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