DESCRIPTION:
Goals
- To further develop expertise in use of collaborative learning strategies (group work) to enhance Ryerson capacity for excellence in teaching and in technology integration in one or more selected programs.
- Dissemination of this understanding in the form of best practices for use of collaborative learning strategies across the university.
- Build a community of learners for curricular transformation (administration, faculty, instructional design, pedagogical expertise, technological expertise, research assistant).
- Incorporation of evaluation of the effect of curricular innovation on student learning.
Collaborative learning strategies are increasingly used to encourage active participation by students, particularly in large classes where issues such as engagement of students and management of faculty workload are of greatest concern. Faculty from almost every program in the university are involved in the challenging task of effectively designing, facilitating and evaluating group projects. To increase the quality of these learning activities in our current environment, new methods and strategies are being used to transform how students learn, including the introduction of educational technology and online collaborative work spaces. At the same time, best practices must be identified to address concerns such as academic integrity, process modeling, mediation of group conflict, and evaluation based on expected learning outcomes. In this project, a team, including faculty experts in large class and collaborative methods, Digital Media Projects Office expertise, and associates in the Learning and Teaching Office will provide consultation as course coaches to individual faculty interested in working towards curricular transformation.
This project will assist faculty in capitalizing on new ideas about how to leverage technology to create opportunities for educational interactivity and assist students and faculty in developing group evaluation strategies that promote achievement of course/program outcomes. The community of learners involved in the project will (over a one year period) build models for experiential, problem and project-based approaches, creating active learning environments and in the process learning how to use resources differently and more effectively.
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IMPACT ON CRITERIA |
Centrality to Mission |
This project will support Ryerson faculty in continuing the tradition of excellence in teaching by helping develop best practices in classes where collaborative learning is a key component. As well, by using online learning environments, commuting students and life-long learners will be able to engage more fully in the active learning experience currently more readily available to on-campus students. |
Quality |
A primary goal of this project is to improve the quality of the learning experience for undergraduates, including those in larger class environments where collaborative learning is included in the curriculum design. This will be achieved through careful analysis, learning from others with experience, creation of new designs and evaluation practices consistent with continuous quality improvement. |
Responsiveness |
This initiative responds to the trend towards teaching greater numbers of students in selected courses, combined with use of group assignments to address issues such as engagement of students and management of faculty workload. It also will meet the need to transform course design and to support a new culture of learners. |
Affordability |
This project will capitalize on:
- Ryerson’s existing technological capacity (such as the support provided by the Digital Media Projects office, Computing and Communications Services and Blackboard)
- the pedagogical expertise developed at the Learning and Teaching Office
- faculty experienced in use of collaborative learning strategies.
By extending and expanding the way these resources are used, this project will provide needed guidance to the Ryerson community regarding effective use of existing resources as well as the possible requirement targeted use of additional resources. Sustainability without continuous infusion of new resources will be a goal of this project. |
RESOURCES REQUESTED
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Costs |
Resources |
$9400.00 |
15 hr x 26 weeks + benefits |
Research assistant to research on best practices in teaching using collaborative learning strategies. |
$1000.00 |
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Dissemination, guest speakers, food, facilities, materials |
$4000.00 |
2 x $2000.00 honoraria |
Faculty coaches (2) Identified from current faculty |
$36,232.00 |
3 days /week, 52 weeks
@$25.00 per hour+ benefits |
Teaching Technology Liaison position: learning technology support, Blackboard support, online tool development, special event planning; to be available on-site at target faculty location. |
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$2000 |
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Workstation (for Teaching Technology Liaison) |
Total: |
$52,632.00 |
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