Presentation by: L. Dee Fink International Consultant in Higher Education “Innovative Pedagogy & Course Redesign IX” Fairfield University June 3-5, 2009

The Joy and Responsibility of Teaching Well AAC&U: Liberal Education ESSENTIAL LEARNING OUTCOMES: I.Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Natural and Physical World II.Intellectual and Practical Skills III.Individual and Social Responsibilities IV.Integrative Learning Synthesis and advanced accomplishment across general and specialized studies Capacity to adapt knowledge, skills, and responsibilities to new settings & questions

Fink’s Taxonomy of Significant Learning

Taxonomy of Significant Learning Caring Developing new…  Feelings  Interests  Values Learning HOW to Learn  Becoming a better student  Inquiring about a subject  Self-directing learners Human Dimensions Learning about:  Oneself  Others INTEGRATION Connecting:  Ideas  Learning Experiences  Realms of life Foundational Knowledge Understanding and remembering:  Information  Ideas Application  Skills  Thinking: Critical, Creative, & Practical  Managing projects

Promoting Better Teaching & Learning 5 “INTEGRATIVE LEARNING”: What Might We Mean By This? Building connections, relationships… A.Among IDEAS B.Among EXPERIENCES AT COLLEGE C.Within ME AND MY LIFE EXPERIENCES

Promoting Better Teaching & Learning 6 “INTEGRATIVE LEARNING”: What Might We Mean By This? A.Among IDEAS B.Among EXPERIENCES AT COLLEGE C.Within ME AND MY LIFE EXPERIENCES

? Building Connections Among: IDEAS ABOUT THE WORLD “OUT THERE”

I.Among IDEAS Inter-Disciplinary Learning Multiple Perspectives on Specific Issues II.Among EXPERIENCES AT COLLEGE III.Within ME AND MY LIFE EXPERIENCES Integrative Learning: BUILDING CONNECTIONS…

Integrative Learning Discipline X Discipline Y Discipline Z Inter-Disciplinary Learning:

I.Among IDEAS Inter-Disciplinary Learning Multiple Perspectives on Specific Issues II.Among EXPERIENCES AT COLLEGE III.Within ME AND MY LIFE EXPERIENCES Integrative Learning: BUILDING CONNECTIONS…

Integrative Learning Issue or Question Perspective “X” Perspective “Y” Perspective “Z” Multiple Perspectives on an Issue or Question:

I.Among IDEAS II.Among EXPERIENCES AT COLLEGE Among Courses Between Courses and Co-Curricular Experiences III.Within ME AND MY LIFE EXPERIENCES Integrative Learning: BUILDING CONNECTIONS…

Integrative Learning Courses within their Major A Other Courses at the University B Co-Curricular Activities C

I.Among IDEAS II.Among EXPERIENCES AT COLLEGE III.Within ME AND MY LIFE EXPERIENCES Old and New Learning My Current Learning and My Personal, Social, Civic, and Professional Lives Integrative Learning: BUILDING CONNECTIONS…

Integrative Learning Student: In College T I M E: Now:

? Building Connections Within: THE WORLD “OF WHICH I AM A PART” ?

Integrative Learning Individual Social Civic Professional Current Learning Past:Present:Future: Student’s Lives: ? ? ? ?

Integrative Learning Individual Social Civic Professional ??? Current Learning Past:Present:Future: Student’s Lives: ? ? ? ?

Integrative Learning Courses within their Major Other Courses at the University Co-Curricular Activities Other Life Experiences A B C D

I.Among IDEAS Inter-Disciplinary Learning Multiple Perspectives on Specific Issues II.Among EXPERIENCES AT COLLEGE Among Courses Between Courses and Co-Curricular Experiences III.Within ME AND MY LIFE EXPERIENCES Old and New Learning; Old and New Selves My Current Learning and My Individual, Social, Civic, and Professional Lives Integrative Learning: BUILDING CONNECTIONS…

Integrative Learning INTEGRATIVE LEARNING : I.What Might It Mean? II.How Might We Get There?

Integrative Learning 22 SITUATION NOW: “Integrative Learning…” …often involves small numbers of students …exists in isolation, disconnected from other parts of the curriculum… Students see their courses as isolated requirements to complete. -Huber & Hutchings, 2004 CHALLENGE: How make Integrative Learning experiences more powerful? How provide them for ALL students?

Integrative Learning III.Integrative Learning: How Might We Get there? Universal Principle: ALL students must have multiple opportunities to… make connections (i.e., to integrate), reflect, dialogue, and get feedback.

Integrative Learning III.Integrative Learning: How Might We Get there? AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAA ORGANIZATION STUDENT Learning Experiences FACULTY

Integrative Learning III.Integrative Learning: How Might We Get there? AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAA ORGANIZATION STUDENT Learning Experiences FACULTY

Integrative Learning I.Student Learning Experiences Wider range of content and experiences in individual courses Build connections and relationships throughout all courses & experiences Dialogue with others about connections Frequent opportunities to reflect Key Tool: Learning Portfolios

S t1 S t2 Teacher/Coach “TAKING CHARGE OF ONE’S OWN LEARNING”

S t1 S t2 Meta-Learner: ? Teacher/Coach

S t1 S t2 Own Learning/ Development Meta-Learner: ? Own Knowing/Beliefs Own Thinking Own Performance Own Caring/Values Teacher/Coach One Who Takes Charge of their…

Integrative Learning One Who Takes Charge of their… Own Learning/ Development Meta-Learner: ? Own Knowing/Beliefs Own Thinking Own Performance Own Caring/Values S t1 S t2 Teacher/Coach

Integrative Learning Students’ Epistemological Beliefs Beliefs about: KNOWLEDGE 1.Content of Knowledge K = Discrete bits of InformationK=Integrated concepts 2. Certainty of Knowledge K=certain & unambiguous K=tentative & subject to change 3.Source of Knowledge K = comes from an external authority K = constructed by oneself Beliefs about: LEARNING 4.Ability to Improve as a Learner L = Ability to learn is innate & fixed L = Can be improved 5. Speed and Ease of Learning L = Quickly, or don’t get it at all L = You have to keep working at it

Integrative Learning NOTE: The statement about the epistemological beliefs of students in the preceding slide came from the following source: Source: C. Boden, An Exploratory Study Of The Relationship Between Epistemological Beliefs And Self-Directed Learning Readiness. Doctoral dissertation, Kansas State University, Based on: Schommer, M. (1990). The effects of beliefs about the nature of knowledge on comprehension. Journal of Educational Psychology, 82,

Integrative Learning I.Student Learning Experiences Wider range of content and experiences in individual courses Build connections and relationships throughout the course Dialogue with others about connections Frequent opportunities to reflect Key Tool: Learning Portfolios

Integrative Learning 34 Re-Shaping STUDENT Culture: I.Establish Expectations Campus publicity New and different kind of orientation to college II.Provide Support III.Assess and Reward Course-Based and Year-to-year Learning Portfolios

Integrative Learning 35 Learning Portfolios: KEY QUESTIONS 1.WHAT did you learn? 2.HOW did you learn? What helped and didn’t help you learn? What does this tell you about: YOURSELF AS A LEARNER? About the NATURE OF LEARNING? 3.SIGNIFICANCE FOR YOU, of what you learned? 4.Plan for FUTURE LEARNING: WHAT ELSE do you want or plan to learn? HOW will you learn that?

Integrative Learning 36 Students Build a Learning Portfolio Curriculum (formal coursework) Co-Curriculum (student affairs) LEARNING PORTFOLIOS: Helping Students Take Charge of Their Own Learning Student’s Time in College

Integrative Learning III.Integrative Learning: How Might We Get there? AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAA ORGANIZATION STUDENT Learning Experiences FACULTY

Integrative Learning II. ORGANIZATION Needs to… Set “Integrative Learning” as an Institution-Wide Learning Goal (IW-LG) Map that kind of learning into the curriculum Provide for both: Faculty Development Student Development

XXX INTEGRATION YYYZZZ 1 st year? 2 nd year? 3 rd year? 4 th year? Service Learning Study Abroad Undergraduate Research Living/Learning Communities Etc. Institution-Wide Learning Goals: Courses : Special Learning Opportunities: MAPPING IW-LG’s INTO THE CURRICULUM

Integrative Learning II. ORGANIZATION Needs to… Set “Integrative Learning” as an Institution-Wide Learning Goal (IW-LG) Map that kind of learning into the curriculum Provide for both: Faculty Development Student Development

Integrative Learning III.Integrative Learning: How Might We Get there? AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAA ORGANIZATION STUDENT Learning Experiences FACULTY

Integrative Learning III.FACULTY Need to Learn… About Integrative Learning How to design specific kinds of learning into their COURSES  Learn pedagogical tools for promoting specific kinds of learning How to construct CURRICULA focused on specific kinds of learning

Integrative Learning III.Integrative Learning: How Might We Get there? AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAA ORGANIZATION STUDENT Learning Experiences FACULTY

Integrative Learning SUMMARY

Integrative Learning INTEGRATIVE LEARNING: I.What Might We Mean By This? Learning in which students build connections…  Among IDEAS  Among LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN COLLEGE  Within THEMSELVES AND DIFFERENT PARTS OF THEIR LIVES II.How Might We Get There? STUDENTS: Become Aware of Themselves as Learners and take responsibility for their own learning ORGANIZATION: Set “Integration” as an IW-LG and map it into the curriculum FACULTY: Learn about Integrative Learning, Designing Courses, and Designing Curricula

Integrative Learning THE END! Higher Education: Let’s make it all that it can be and needs to be!