Session Descriptions for 2012 Symposium
What You "Sense" is What You Learn: The Role of Observation Skills in Experiential Learning Environments
Mary Price, Center for Service and Learning, IUPUI
Patti Clayton, Center for Service and Learning, IUPUI and PHC Ventures
Learning through reflection is essential in experiential education; however, students struggle to critically analyze experiences, often due to de-valuation of the observation process which is a gateway to critical reflection and to lack of required capacities. Using method and theory drawn from anthropology and the learning sciences, as well as materials drawn from our own teaching practice, participants will engage in guided observation activities and collaborate to identify opportunities, challenges, and strategies associated with designing learning environments that cultivate observational skills and support reflective practice.
Keywords: critical thinking; experiential learning; faculty development; civic engagement teaching; research learning
Implementing Problem-solving Discussion Sections in First Semester Organic Chemistry
Sarah Wilson, Scool of Science, IUPUI
Pratibha Varma-Nelson, School of Science, IUPUI
Robert Minto, School of Science, IUPUI
Ryan Denton, School of Science, IUPUI
The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at IUPUI, an emerging life sciences campus which enrolls over 30,000 students, serves approximately 500 first semester organic chemistry students annually. A problem-solving workshop series was added to the course to improve exam performance, reduce an undesirable DFW rate, and boost student perceptions. To increase student engagement in their own learning processes, we borrowed principles from the Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) model, which has proven to be effective in organic chemistry and other STEM. Our peer-led problem-solving discussion sections were organized as a 75-minute additional meeting for this 3-credit first semester organic chemistry course and fostered the development of small-group learning communities that extend outside of the lecture classroom, developed mentoring relationships, and promoted active group learning. Moreover, we improved conceptual understanding of organic chemistry concepts while developing problem-solving skills.
Keywords: active learning; team-based learning; problem-solving skills; collaborative learning
Central Indiana STEM Talent Expansion Program (CI-STEP): Transforming Education
Kathleen Marrs, School of Science, IUPUI
Mariah Judd, School of Science, IUPUI
Jeff Watt, School of Science, IUPUI
Charlie Feldhaus, School of Engineering and Technology, IUPUI
The Central Indiana STEM Talent Expansion Program at IUPUI, funded by the National Science Foundation, is creating a central Indiana pipeline and a university culture change to increase the number of IUPUI students obtaining STEM degrees. Our project addresses initiatives needed for transforming undergraduate STEM education by propagating, expanding, and creating new research-based educational innovations in undergraduate STEM education at IUPUI.
Keywords: integration and application of knowledge; faculty development; mentoring; introductory or gateway courses; assessment
Campus and Community Collaboration in the Civil Practice Clinic: Logistics and Preliminary Assessment
Stephanie Boys, School of Social Work, IUPUI
Stephanie Quiring, School of Social Work, IUPUI
Carrie Hagan, School of Law - Indianapolis
A team from the Schools of Law and Social Work have implemented a new interdisciplinary service learning clinic designed to enhance students' practice skills and to increase availability of holistic service providers in Indianapolis. Participants will learn how the clinic is structured, view preliminary effectiveness data, and discuss further opportunity for collaboration across the university and the urban community.
Keywords: interdisciplinary education; team teaching; clinical education; team-based learning; experiential learning
Learning Opportunities: Framing Evaluation and Assessment Practices to Promote Deep Learning
Jonathan Rossing, School of Liberal Arts, IUPUI
Learning centered assessment practices have the potential to increase the level of energy students invest in the learning process, to help students develop strong learning habits that lead to successful educational outcomes, and to inspire students as lifelong learners. This presentation will share both strategies for framing assessment as a learning-centered process and research on student responses to these frames.
Keywords: evaluation; grading; learning centered; communication
No More Grading Papers: Using Digital Stories to Facilitate Reflection and Demonstrate Student Learning
Kristin Norris, Center for Service and Learning, IUPUI
Libby Laux, Center for Service and Learning, IUPUI
Morgan Studer, Center for Service and Learning, IUPUI
Joseph Spaulding, IUPUI Student
Sarah Flores, IUPUI Student
Tanya Triggol, IUPUI Student
Digital storytelling is a creative way to integrate technology and learning in any discipline. Digital stories are an effective means for facilitating reflection, documenting experiences, and illustrating student learning. In this session, participants will see how digital stories, when implemented as a teaching strategy, can yield more meaningful products of student learning.
Keywords: instructional technology; civic learning; active learning; communication skills; civic engagement
Engaging Undergraduates in the Archives: Case Study in Philanthropic Studies
Julie Hatcher, School of Liberal Arts, IUPUI
Fran Huehls, University Library, IUPUI
Brenda Burk, Ruth Lilly Special Collection, IUPUI
Involving undergraduate students in group projects using the archives collection at University Library increases their understanding of historical events, develops critical thinking, and provides an historical framework to explore current practice. In this session, participants will understand the resources of the librarian and archivist, review samples from the archives collection, see student presentations, and hear from two students about the value of this engaged learning experience.
Keywords: archival research; critical thinking; collaborative learning; active learning
Enhancing Creativity in Teaching and Learning
Sara Anne Hook, School of Informatics, IUPUI
Joseph Defazio, School of Informatics, IUPUI
Josette Jones, School of Informatics, IUPUI
Felisa Tennant, School of Informatics, IUPUI
This engaging session will feature four faculty members from one school who have incorporated a number of pedagogical approaches into their courses to encourage creativity in their students while drawing on the creative arts to stay motivated and engaged as teachers. It will include 2-3 interactive online activities for participants with an opportunity for self-reflection after completion of these activities.
Keywords: creativity; teaching; pedagogy; motivation; student learning
Finding New Ways to Assess Communication Competencies in the Digital Age
Elvinet Piard, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indiana University East
Natalia Rybas, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indiana University East
This session presents findings from an ongoing study assessing student satisfaction with computer-mediated activities used in public speaking online. Presenters discuss assessment strategies including helping students develop video presentations for self and peer evaluation. Participants will consider the benefits and limitations of directing students to use audio-visual tools to demonstrate creativity and to understand communication effectiveness in the online classroom.
Keywords: online teaching/learning; instructional technology; communication skills; assessment; competency-based education
Critical Thinking Across Disciplines
Scott Weeden, School of Liberal Arts, IUPUI
Kate Thedwall, University College, IUPUI
Lin Zhu, School of Science, IUPUI
Nancy Evans, School of Engineering and Technology , IUPUI
Lisa Contino, School of Science, IUPUI
This session will offer ideas for implementing critical thinking strategies in courses across the curriculum, following nationally-recognized critical thinking models. The presenters will discuss their work with the critical thinking strategies, offer results from class-based investigations, and invite interaction from participants on how they too can utilize the ideas they learn from the presenters.
Keywords: critical thinking; pedagogy; teaching; student learning
Making Silent Health Education Alive: Evaluation and Design of Written Health Materials
Carol Shieh, School of Nursing, IUPUI
Written health materials enhance or replace verbal patient instructions. Hands-on experience in evaluation and design of written health materials increases student knowledge of critical elements needed for effective patient education materials. In this session, participants will learn about how to evaluate readability and suitability of written health materials.
Keywords: service learning; project-based learning
Taking Hold of Practice Through TLC: Transformative Learning in Community
Josh Plaskoff, Kelley School of Business, IUPUI
Transformative Learning in Community (TLC), an approach that combines transformative learning and community of practice theories, has been used to foster a deep sense of professionalism and professional (and critical) commitment to practice. In this session, participants will learn and experience how this approach differs fundamentally from traditional teaching/learning approaches, how it was used in a professional program, and how to translate it into other contexts.
Keywords: professionalism; critical thinking; collaborative learning; active learning; values and ethics
