ERIC Number: EJ1029146
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1812-9129
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
World Challenge: Engaging Sophomores in an Intensive, Interdisciplinary Course
Berger, Michael; Scott, Elizabeth; Axe, Judah; Hawkins, Irana
International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, v25 n3 p333-345 2013
College and university educators seek to increase student engagement in learning content, skills, and applications. To achieve this goal, we used transformative teaching techniques in the design of a World Challenge: a two-week, group-based, reflective course for sophomores leading their own learning in developing creative solutions to the problem of Health, Hunger, and Humanity. Through indirect guidance by faculty members from multiple disciplines, students led their own learning in small groups to research this global problem and develop local solutions. Given the breadth of the course objectives ranging from applying content to teamwork and productivity, we used a variety of assessment tools: pretest/posttest, rubrics, questionnaires, focus groups, peer assessments, and self-reflections. The data documented increases in content knowledge, and provided formative and summative feedback on engagement and satisfaction to the core faculty members. Student comments at the end of the course suggest the intensive experience was indeed transformative.
Descriptors: College Students, College Faculty, Transformative Learning, Reflection, Problem Solving, World Problems, Social Problems, Interdisciplinary Approach, Small Group Instruction, Cooperative Learning, Teamwork, Pretests Posttests, Scoring Rubrics, Questionnaires, Focus Groups, Peer Evaluation, Self Evaluation (Individuals), Program Effectiveness, Learner Engagement, Student Attitudes, Student Empowerment, Social Change, Food, Hunger, Holistic Approach, Consciousness Raising, Nutrition
International Society for Exploring Teaching and Learning. Web site: http://www.isetl.org/ijtlhe
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Massachusetts
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A