NCAT Redesign Alliance Annual ConferenceNCAT Redesign Alliance Annual Conference

OrlandoOrlando

March 18, 2008March 18, 2008

Dennis PearlDennis Pearl

The Ohio State UniversityThe Ohio State University

Cooking for the buffet - Individualizing course

content to improve learning

Learning Styles Learning Styles DistributionDistribution

11 9 7 5 3 1 1 3 5 7 9 11

Active Reflective

31% 14%

55%

Sequential Global11 9 7 5 3 1 1 3 5 7 9 11

31%11%

59%

Visual Verbal

11 9 7 5 3 1 1 3 5 7 9 11

8%

42%

51%

Sensing Intuitive

11 9 7 5 3 1 1 3 5 7 9 11

42% 20%38%

Options in a 3-choice Options in a 3-choice BuffetBuffet

Monday Wednesday Friday

Option AGlobal &Reflective

Illustrations and presentation of generalprinciples aided by individual reflectionopportunities.

Option BSequential &Active

Illustrations and presentation of generalprinciples aided by group basedactivities

Problem solvingsession

Problem solving may be replaced by out-of-class problem solving coupled with on-line mastery quizzing.

Lar

ge g

roup

Smal

l gro

up Tuesday/ThursdayTuesday/Thursday

Option AOption A sensorssensors More hands-on data generationMore hands-on data generation

Option BOption B intuitiveintuitive More applet and simulation More applet and simulation activitiesactivities

Individualized Student Individualized Student ChecklistChecklist

Nuts and bolts issuesNuts and bolts issues

On-line contract and student trackingOn-line contract and student tracking Common coverage of learning objectivesCommon coverage of learning objectives

common list of ≈ 10 objectives per weekcommon list of ≈ 10 objectives per week EEGP-example from life experience, EEGP-example from life experience,

example outside, generalize, practiceexample outside, generalize, practice Equalize difficulty Equalize difficulty

to remove as decision metricto remove as decision metric Support equitable testingSupport equitable testing

makes up about 2/3 of grademakes up about 2/3 of grade

Student Student PerformancePerformance

Midterm Exam Final Exam Class # of students Median % < 70 Median % < 70

Buffet 297 84 11.9 81 23.6 Traditional Dayime

121 81 22.9 76 32.8

Evening 93 83 13.7 79.5 26.9

Prior Year Day

403 78 19.6 72.7 41.8

Prior Year Evening

97 84.5 11.3 79 30.1

Notes: Class-to-class variability during 2002-2007 under the buffet model has been ≈ 1.5%.

Students needing to retake the class reduced from 20% to 12%.

Summary: Benefits of Buffet Summary: Benefits of Buffet StrategyStrategy

1. Individualized presentations1. Individualized presentations

2. 2. Students participate in decisions about their learning

3. Fostering commitment3. Fostering commitment student contracts checklists calendars

4. Increase self-awareness learning styles school strategies

5. Allows experimental tests of pedagogical modifications