Project: Encouraging Change

Encouraging change

Providing outreach and resources for lectures

Sibylle Wälty, Dr. Sarah Springman and Antoine Enz. Photo: Heidi Hostettler

By Antoine Enz and Sibylle Wälty

Problem statement: How can we encourage and support more lecturers to change their class? The benefits of active learning are indisputable. Attendance, Engagement and Learning improves as does understanding of physical concepts (Deslauriers, L., Schelew, E. & Wieman, C. (2011)). Aaside from laptops on the tables, classrooms today look very similar to classrooms from 1960 or even older. Yet when we asked lecturers "Have you ever thought of changing your class?", they all answered that no, they have not and that they would not know how.

Proposed solution: ETH should be more actively communicate the value added and resources available for change. This can be done with flyers and brochures. They should include statistics on learning outcomes, number of lectures that have already transformed all or parts of their class, student and faculty statements about pros, and available resources such as funding or technical support. Equipped with flyer or brochures, lecturers then can be approached by colleagues and students with basic background knowledge in didactics and learning technology. Those that show interest, could be invited to LET for a first chat about how to start this transformation.

Next steps: A meeting with various stakeholders is being planned for January to discuss further strategies.

PDF presentation file: Team2_Presentation