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Exploring Teaching and Learning in Luddy Indiana University

What does it mean to understand your learners? | Book Club | Upcoming Conference

Posted on by akesha

Understanding your learners

In a recent post by Breana Bayraktar, she explains that better understanding the students we teach provides us with an advantage in that we can customize our teaching in ways that connect with their motivations and maximize their learning.
While she notes, “It’s not always possible to adapt learning materials and activities to each student’s specific preferences… it is helpful to know what they think works best for them, and to be able to translate that into actions they can take to improve their learning”.
She provides a series of reflection prompts (that are especially helpful for first and second year students) with “actionable items” for students that can help students better understand how they learn:
  1. Preferred Learning Modalities:
    1. Questions to Ask:
      1. Do you find it easier to learn through visual aids (charts, graphs, videos), verbal instruction (lectures, discussions), or hands-on work (interactive simulations, labs) for your studies?
      2. Which types of in-class activities help you learn best (e.g., group discussions, problem-solving exercises, individual work)?
      3. How do you feel about class participation and discussions?
    2. Take Action: Experiment with different modalities & media to discover the most effective ways for you to learn and retain information.
  2. Learning Environment:
    1. Questions to Ask:
      1. Do you prefer a structured learning environment with clear guidelines and deadlines, or a more flexible approach?
      2. How does the physical classroom setup affect your ability to focus and learn?
      3. Do you have any specific needs or preferences regarding the classroom environment (e.g., seating arrangement, noise levels)?
      4. Do you prefer working alone, in pairs, or in groups?
    2. Take Action: Be proactive in creating or adjusting your learning environments to suit your needs, whether that means finding a quiet study space, using noise-cancelling headphones, or requesting specific seating arrangements, and experiment to find what works best for you.
  3. Study Habits and Techniques:
    1. Questions to Ask:
      1. What study techniques do you find most effective (e.g., flashcards, summarizing notes, teaching others)?
      2. How do you typically prepare for exams or quizzes?
      3. Do you use any specific tools or apps to help you study? If so, which ones?
    2. Take Action: Try out different study techniques and tools, and reflect on which ones work best for you, being open to experimentation to find the study methods that maximize your learning and productivity.
  4. Feedback and Assessment:
    1. Questions to Ask:
      1. How do you prefer to receive feedback on your assignments and exams?
      2. What type of assessments (multiple-choice, essays, projects) do you feel best demonstrate your understanding of the material?
      3. How do you handle and reflect on the feedback you receive to improve your learning?
    2. Take Action: Seek out opportunities to receive constructive feedback, using it to identify areas for improvement and develop effective strategies for future learning.
  5. Motivation and Engagement:
    1. Questions to Ask:
      1. What motivates you to engage with the course material?
      2. How do you stay focused and motivated during long lectures or study sessions?
      3. What types of rewards or incentives help you stay motivated?
    2. Take Action: Reflect on what motivates you and try to incorporate those elements into your learning process, finding ways to make the material personally relevant and to reward yourself for your efforts and accomplishments.
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Fall 2024 Book Club

Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning
Book Club Facilitator: Akesha Horton
Book cover of Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning
Book cover of Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning
Book Author: José Antonio Bowen & C. Edward Watson
Book Description (Excerpted from Amazon):
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way we learn, work, and think. Its integration into classrooms and workplaces is already underway, impacting and challenging ideas about creativity, authorship, and education. In this groundbreaking and practical guide, teachers will discover how to harness and manage AI as a powerful teaching tool. José Antonio Bowen and C. Edward Watson present emerging and powerful research on the seismic changes AI is already creating in schools and the workplace, providing invaluable insights into what AI can accomplish in the classroom and beyond.

Meeting Dates:

Fridays from 3PM – 4:30 in the Luddy AI Center, Room 2005

  • October 18, 2024

  • November 1, 2024

Free books are available (by 9/18/2024) to the first 10 people who agree to participate in both sessions.
Register here: https://forms.gle/2d4ikRY6mFkzAugL8

Upcoming Conference Opportunities

 
Hosted by Indiana University Indianapolis, the Assessment Institute in Indianapolis is the oldest and largest U.S. event focused on assessing and improving higher education. This year’s Institute will be held Sunday, October 27, 2024, through Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown.
 
 
Please also consider these additional engagement opportunities:
 
 
 
  • Podcast: Listen to Leading Improvements in Higher Education, our award-winning podcast. Season 4, Episode 11 features a conversation with four influential scholars in experiential education and High Impact Practices (HIPs).
 
Finally, sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are also available for the 2024 Assessment Institute in Indianapolis. For your convenience, here is a downloadable flyer about the Assessment Institute and its affiliated resources. Please email planning@iu.edu with questions you have or information you need.

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