CIT Events

Increasing Student Preparedness, Accountability, and Understanding: Impact of Team-Based Learning in the Classroom

Connie Eudy, Center for Teaching & Learning, Florida State University
Annette Schwabe, Ph.D., Department of Sociology, Florida State University

Team-based learning (TBL) is an instructional strategy developed by Larry Michaelsen* at the University of Oklahoma. TBL is a teaching strategy that promotes student investment in learning at the individual and group level. This mode of teaching requires small groups of students to solve a specific problem by using the dynamic impetus of the group, which also motivates individual students to think critically in the process of applying what they have learned. TBL does not just assemble students into groups – instead TBL transforms a static group into a cohesive team that uses course concepts and knowledge to solve problems. If implemented as designed TBL minimizes the problems typical of informal group assignments such as “social loafing,” where one member does most of the talking or work and other students take a “back seat” and learn little. TBL is structured so that individual students are accountable for completing the task.

TBL requires students to engage in a cohesive effort to solve problems so that the group yields more than the sum of its parts. Using the combined competence of individual group members, team-based work has been found to enhance creativity and effective problem-solving. At the end of the group work, students present their solutions to the entire class for discussion so that solutions can be evaluated by other students as well as the instructor. This immediate feedback further reinforces the ability to apply knowledge using abstract thinking and teaches students how to evaluate proposed solutions, which is also useful in the work world. An additional strength of the TBL process is that instructors do not need to fundamentally alter the structure of existing courses to accommodate this teaching strategy.

Like the TBL process, this workshop is a combination of a presentation and interactive, hands-on practice using a team-based approach to teaching. You may stay for the first hour and get practical information about this teaching strategy or you can join us for the presentation, lunch, and experience the essential elements of TBL as your students will experience it.
All participants will receive a detailed handout on the procedures and resources for implementing this teaching strategy.

Full Workshop Objectives:

Describe the components of Team-Based Learning (TBL) process.
Describe how to use the TBL process to transform small groups into learning teams.
When given a group assignment be able to participate in the Readiness Assurance Process (RAP).

Workshop Format and Schedule:

10:15 – 11:15 am: Presentation about TBL, how it works and why it is effective. Using personal experiences and anecdotes, Schwabe will describe using TBL in her courses, and Eudy will discuss her observations teaching about and observing TBL in action.
11:30 am – 3 pm (lunch provided): participants will “try out” TBL as presenters take them through the essential elements of the process and let them experience the key steps as a student participant. Upon completion of the full workshop, participants will be able to discuss team-based learning, compare and contrast the challenges and advantages of team-based learning, and demonstrate knowledge of constructing a team-based learning exercise to engage undergraduate students in active learning and critical thinking.

PLEASE REGISTER for the section(s) in which you will be able to participate: presentation and/or hands-on workshop. Registering for the presentation alone will not guarantee you a spot in the hands-on workshop - you must register for both if you would like to attend the full day.

PLEASE REGISTER for the workshop by 12 noon Thursday 11/19/2009 to be guaranteed a lunch.

PLEASE NOTE: Priority in the workshop will be for Duke faculty, if space becomes limited.

About the presenters:

Annete Schwabe, Ph.D. is an Associate in Sociology and has been teaching at Florida State University for three years. Her faculty position primarily involves undergraduate teaching and mentoring. Because she teaches classes that enroll from 45 to 300 students with diverse backgrounds and learning styles, she uses multiple teaching methods and modalities, including TBL. She teaches Social Problems, Research Methods, Medical Sociology and Population Demography. Dr. Schwabe received the University Teaching Award at FWU as well as the Michael Armer Departmental Teaching Award, both in 2009.

Connie Eudy coordinates the Program for Instruction Excellence at the Florida State Center for Teaching and Learning. She consults with faculty and is active in faculty development activities at Florida State. After being introduced to TBL in 2006, she has observed and worked closely with faculty who use this strategy. She conducts workshops on TBL and leads a TBL focus group for faculty.

*Michaelsen, L.K., Knight, A. B., and Fink, L.D. (2002). Team Based Learning, Stylus Pubs., Sterling, VA

Registration	Date	Time	Location	Presenter(s)
Closed	Fri 11/20/09	10:15 AM - 11:15 AM	Perkins Library Room 217	Connie Eudy, Center for Teaching & Learning, Florida State University Annette Schwabe, Department of Sociology, Florida State University

Other occurrences of this event:

Registration	Date	Time	Location	Presenter(s)
Closed	Fri 11/20/09	11:30 AM - 3:00 PM	Perkins Library Room 217	Connie Eudy, Center for Teaching & Learning, Florida State University Annette Schwabe, Department of Sociology, Florida State University