Hands-on Design of Effective University Learning Environments Rob Phillips, Academic Consultant Educational Design Project, School of Education, Curtin University, Perth Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Education, Murdoch University, Perth

My Background 1980s – Research scientist – theoretical chemistry and computer science – Germany and Australia 1990s – Interactive multimedia designer and project manager 2000s – Educational designer 2010s – Learning and Teaching Policy work – Academic consultant – mentoring and educational design

Thesis Statement The traditional model of university teaching is inappropriate to meet the needs and pressures of the 21st century – It isn’t scalable in the face of funding cuts – It poorly adapts to increasing student diversity and need for flexibility Way forward: – Build on research – Innovative unit design and clever use of educational technology

Flipped Classroom Content is everywhere No need to spend class time in delivering content Engage with content before class Class time is spent in discussion, practising…

Nothing new under the sun… Bligh, D. A. (1972). What's the Use of Lectures. Harmondsworth, UK: Penguin. Laurillard, D. M. (1993). Rethinking University Teaching: A Framework for the Effective Use of Educational Technology. London: Routledge. – Second edition 2002

Overview Examples Conceptual frameworks Hands-on activities

Overview Examples Conceptual frameworks Hands-on activities

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Learning Environment, Process, Outcomes Educational Context Learning environments Learning processes Learning outcomes Students Teacher s facilitate design facilitate assess lead todetermine work within engage in demonstrate interact with The LEPO Framework

Educational Context Learning environments Learning processes Learning outcomes Students Teacher s Students Existing knowledge and abilities Socioeconomic context Expectations of success Motivation to learn Conceptions/ beliefs about learning Preferred approach to learning Students Existing knowledge and abilities Socioeconomic context Expectations of success Motivation to learn Conceptions/ beliefs about learning Preferred approach to learning

Educational Context Learning environments Learning processes Learning outcomes Students Teacher s Conceptions/beliefs of learning Teaching expertise Ability to motivate students Deep contextual knowledge Teachers Conceptions/beliefs of learning Teaching expertise Ability to motivate students Deep contextual knowledge

Teaching philosophy Behaviourism and constructivism

The Forest Metaphor Lloyd Rieber, University of Georgia, 1995

The Yellow Brick Road Approach

Discovery Learning

Discovery Learning 2

Guided Discovery Learning

Educational Context Learning environments Learning processes Learning outcomes Students Teacher s Learning Environment Curriculum what to learn desired learning outcomes, content Learning design how to learn learning “tasks” Technology design technical specifications Learning Environment Curriculum what to learn desired learning outcomes, content Learning design how to learn learning “tasks” Technology design technical specifications

Curriculum Design Desired Learning Outcomes Generic Learning Outcomes – Graduate attributes – 21 st century skills Bloom’s Taxonomy

Bloom’s Taxonomies

Learning Domains Cognitive Domain Psychomotor Domain – physical skills Affective Domain – emotions Conative Domain – capacity to act, decide, and commit – motivation

Educational Context Learning environments Learning processes Learning outcomes Students Teacher s Learning Process Learning Processes Learning activity: an interaction between a learner and an environment Contextual learning processes – studying Cognitive learning processes Learning Processes Learning activity: an interaction between a learner and an environment Contextual learning processes – studying Cognitive learning processes

Educational Context Learning environments Learning processes Learning outcomes Students Teacher s Learning Outcomes Conceptual knowledge Professional skills Literacies Learning skills Societal beliefs and values Lifelong learning skills Assessment Learning Outcomes Conceptual knowledge Professional skills Literacies Learning skills Societal beliefs and values Lifelong learning skills Assessment

Learning Design Learning tasks are what teachers set Learning activities are what students do Constructive alignment

What are Learning Tasks? Activities that students do to practice and consolidate their understanding E.g. – Read chapter 3… – Write a reflective journal entry – Work with your group to refine your project plan

Authentic Learning Authentic context Authentic activity Expert performances Multiple perspectives Collaboration Reflection Articulation Coaching and scaffolding Authentic assessment (Herrington, Reeves & Oliver, 2010)

Critique Are there any disciplines that Authentic Learning is not suited for? Yes but even if not, you can still use elements to make it relevant

Section Conclusion As well as outcomes and content, think about learning tasks and assessment Try to be more authentic than the yellow brick road Focus on effective and efficient learning not effective and efficient teaching

Overview Examples Conceptual frameworks Hands-on activities

Activities Analyse a current course in terms of outcomes, assessment and learning tasks Progressively refine the design – to make it more appropriate for your students Outcome: – Better understanding of effective learning environments – An initial plan to refine a course

Task In pairs or 3s – Choose a course – Fill in current Objectives, Assessments and Tasks

Educational Context Learning environments Learning processes Learning outcomes Students Teacher s Learning Outcomes Conceptual knowledge Professional skills Literacies Learning skills Societal beliefs and values Lifelong learning skills Assessment Learning Outcomes Conceptual knowledge Professional skills Literacies Learning skills Societal beliefs and values Lifelong learning skills Assessment

Learning Domains Cognitive Domain Psychomotor Domain – physical skills Affective Domain – emotions Conative Domain – capacity to act, decide, and commit – motivation

Bloom’s Taxonomies

Aims, Objectives and Outcomes Aim - what the teacher is going to do (archery competition) Objective - what the student should be able to do (the target) Outcome - what the student can do (shooting the arrow)

Learning Outcomes Three types of learning outcomes (Allan, 1996) Subject-based outcomes – subsume learning objectives – complex, discipline-based outcomes - capable of being assessed; Personal transferable outcomes – acting independently – working with others – using information technology – communicating effectively – metacognitive and self-efficacy skills Generic academic outcomes – making use of information – thinking creatively and critically – analysing and synthesising ideas and information Graduate Attributes or 21 st Century Skills Your students might already have some of these – or they might not….

Task In pairs or 3s Review learning outcomes and assessment Are they deep enough?

Task Do the Learning Outcomes, Assessments and Tasks match the profile of your students? Plenary discussion

How to Teach the Topic What (authentic) tasks can you develop to engage students? What classroom activities can you design to improve understanding?

Task Go to Column 2 Review Learning Outcomes and Assessment Identify authentic tasks Identify troublesome concepts Propose solutions

Teaching Ideas If you can’t change the course, you can change how you teach it! Inspiring students Relevance

Adult Learning Principles The subject matter is relevant to the personal interests of the adult learner Capitalise on the wealth of experience of participants Adult learners must understand the rationale and purpose of their learning Need to be involved in the planning and evaluation of their learning Experience (including mistakes) can provide the basis for learning activities Interested in learning material that has immediate application Problem­centric rather than content­specific Jeremy Williams (2006) Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, 2 (1)

Open-Book Open-Web (OBOW) Exams Jeremy Williams (2009) The efficacy of the final examination: a comparative study of closed-book, invigilated exams and open-book, open-web exams (with Amy Wong), British Journal of Educational Technology, 40 (2), The efficacy of the final examination: a comparative study of closed-book, invigilated exams and open-book, open-web exams Jeremy Williams (2007) E-xams: harnessing the power of ICTs to enhance authenticity, (with Wing Lam and Alton Chua), Educational Technology and Society, 10 (3), E-xams: harnessing the power of ICTs to enhance authenticity

An OBOW Exam….