how people learn
DESCRIPTION
How people learn, exploring the key findings from Chapter 1 of "How People Learn." Plus, implications for teaching including peer instruction. A weekly workshop by the Center for Teaching Development at UCSD.TRANSCRIPT
HOW PEOPLE LEARN
Peter Newbury Center for Teaching Development,University of California, San Diego
[email protected] @polarisdotca
#ctducsd
YOU CAN HELP
slides and resources: ctd.ucsd.edu/2012/11/how-people-learn/
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Theories of Learning
Many lectures based in transmissionist learning model.
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Scientifically Outdated, Culturally a Known Failure
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How People Learn1
People actively construct their own knowledge
Individual Based in pre-existing understanding
Biologically, learning changes the brain Proteins form, neurons fire Technology allowing us to observe learning
as it happens (fMRIs)[1] Committee on Developments in the Science of Learning with additional material from the Committee on Learning Research and Educational Practice, National Research Council. "1 Learning: From Speculation to Science." How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School: Expanded Edition. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2000.
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How People Learn6
Learning is not about whatprofessors do.
It’s about what students do!
How People Learn7
Learning is not about whatprofessors do.
It’s about what students do!
Corollary: Students will not learn (just) by listening to the
professor explain
Let’s have a learning experience…
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New Coding System
Please memorize this code:
1 = 4 = 7 =
2 = 5 = 8 =
3 = 6 = 9 =
0 =
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Test
What is this number?
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New Coding System
Here’s the structure of the code:
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
0 =
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Test
What is this number?
Constructivism13
All new learning is based in pre-existing knowledge that you hold.
You store things in long term memory through a set of connections that are made with previous existing memories.
Higher-level learning = brain development
T.J. Shors, “Saving New Brain Cells”Sci. Amer. 300, 46-54 (March 2009).
Another Example of Constructivism:14
Put up your hand when you know what this means:
NBCNRAFBIUSAIRS
Key Finding 115
Students come to the classroom with preconceptions about how the world works. If their initial understanding is not engaged, they may fail to grasp the new concepts and information that are taught, or they may learn them for the purposes of a test but revert to their preconceptions outside of the classroom.
How People Learn – Chapter 1, p 14.
How do you think undergrad students feel about learning your field?
1. To learn [your field], I only need to memorize facts and definitions.
A B C D EStrongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
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How do you think undergrad students feel about learning your field?
1. To learn [your field], I only need to memorize facts and definitions.
2. Knowledge in [your field] consists of many disconnected topics.
A B C D EStrongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
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Key Finding 218
To develop competence in an area of inquiry, students must: have a deep foundation of factual
knowledge, understand facts and ideas in the
context of a conceptual framework, and organize knowledge in ways that
facilitate retrieval and application.How People Learn – Chapter 1, p 16.
Key Finding 319
A “metacognitive” approach to instruction can help students learn to take control of their own learning by defining learning goals and monitoring their progress in achieving them. How People Learn – Chapter 1, p 18.
Please break into groups of 3...20
Each set of cards has 3 Key Findings 3 Implications for Teaching 3 Designing Classroom Environments
TASK: For each Key Finding, match one Implication for Teaching and one Designing Classroom Environment.
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Implications for Instructorsand Teaching Assistants
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Traditional (lecture) class23
students get very little opportunity for “expert” feedback
First Exposure
Lecture Textbook
Read Hard Stuff
Homework
See if You Know Hard Stuff
Exam
Show KnowledgeMastery
Everyone constructs their own understanding:
I can’t dump understanding into your brain.
To learn, YOU must actively work with a problemand construct your own understanding of it.
Greater opportunity for expert feedback
Constructivist classHomework Lecture Lab Exam
Show KnowledgeMastery
First Exposure:With resources and
Feedback
Learn Hard Stuff:With teacher and
discussion
Practice Knowledge
Mastery
QUIZ
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When you are the instructor, try…
Peer Instruction (aka “clickers”) One of most-studied active learning
techniques for improving learning Works in the large and small lecture
halls Focuses students on their role and
responsibility as the learner
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Typical Peer Instruction Episode
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Alternating with 5-10 minute “mini-lectures”,
1. Instructor poses a conceptually-challengingmultiple-choice question.
2. Students think about question on their own.
3. Students vote for an answer using clickers, coloured cards, ABCD voting cards,...
4. The instructor reacts, based on the distribution of votes.
Reacting to their votes
When you know the first-vote distribution (but the students don’t) you have many options: confirm and move on ask students to discuss with their peers,
vote again ask students to advocate for the choices
they made, vote again check that the question made sense eliminate one or more choices before re-
voting and more...
This is where you show your teaching agility.
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In effective peer instruction
students teach each other immediately,while they may still hold or remembertheir novice misconceptions
students discuss the concepts in theirown language
the instructor finds out what the students know (and don’t know) and reacts
students learn and practice how to think, communicate like experts
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Effective peer instruction requires1. identifying key concepts,
misconceptions2. creating multiple-choice questions
that require deeper thinking and learning
3. facilitating peer instruction episodes that spark student discussion
4. resolving the misconceptions
beforeclass
duringclass
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Clicker Question
The molecules making up the dry mass of wood that forms during the growth of a tree largely come from a) sunlight.b) the air.c) the seed.d) the soil.
Question credit: Bill Wood
Veritasium (Derek Muller)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KZb2_vcNTg
Active Learning Techniques forDiscussion Sections
Think, Pair Share or peer instruction with clickers
One-Minute papers: What is most confusing right now? (“muddiest point”)
Problem Solving in Groups Provide scaffold/structure Ask what steps would you take to solve
problem(versus actually solving them)
Critique or “fix” sample work/problem overhead slides, document cameras,
board? The duck...
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Discussion Sections
Learning is not about what TAs explain.It’s about what students understand!
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Discussion Sections
Learning is not about what TAs explain.It’s about what students understand!
Corollary 1: Students will not understand (just) by watching the TA solve problems.
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Discussion Sections
Learning is not about what TAs explain.It’s about what students understand!
Corollary 1: Students will not understand (just) by watching the TA solve problems.
Corollary 2: BE LESS HELPFUL.
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But really ask yourself…
Who is doing the work?You or the students?
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HOW PEOPLE LEARN
Peter Newbury Center for Teaching Development,University of California, San Diego
[email protected] @polarisdotca
#ctducsd
YOU CAN HELP
slides and resources: ctd.ucsd.edu/2012/11/how-people-learn/