In order to create an effective learning environment, 2-3 very complex conditions need to take place:

1) Create an “expectation failure”
We learn from our mistakes often better than from our successes. Bain suggests that teachers need to put the learner in a situation where their existing paradigm does not work, then rebuild it from there. This is usually created from some sort of intellectual challenge or cognitive dissonance. “It needs to be more than just telling them the truth – that doesn’t work,” explains Bain. (i.e. – lecture doesn’t work – for long term, for most students)

2) Make it meaningful or engaging
The learner has to care deeply enough to struggle through the incongruity (and this needs to be timely… if it takes too long, they are onto other things)
Teachers must carefully select mental models or paradigms that can cause this incongruity, but yet attract student interest, leading to student engagement. In other words, “How can you create an expectation failure where students will care enough to struggle through it?”

3) Provide emotional support (if needed)
As students encounter a challenge to their beliefs, some sort of emotional support may be needed, especially when dealing with most religious convictions, which are very difficult for students to question, let alone consider alternatives.

What do you think about these conditions for effective learning environments? Do you agree? What other conditions are needed, if any?

Click on the COMMENTS link below to leave your thoughts!

People Learn Best and Most Deeply When:

• They try to answer questions or solve problems they find interesting, intriguing, important, or beautiful;
• They can try, fail, receive feedback, and try again before anyone makes a judgment of their work;
• They can work collaboratively with other learners struggling with the same problems;
• They face repeated challenges to their existing fundamental paradigms;
• They care that their existing paradigms do not work;
• They can get support (emotional, physical, and intellectual) when they need it;
• They feel in control of their own learning, not manipulated;
• They believe that their work will be considered fairly and honestly;
• They believe that their work will matter;
• They believe that intelligence and abilities are expandable, that if they work hard, they will get better at it;
• They believe other people have faith in their ability to learn;
• They believe that they can learn.

What else should be added to this list? As educators, what is our role in helping students to believe they can learn?. . . Click on the COMMENTS link below to leave your thoughts!

Over the next couple weeks, we will highlight some of the insights offered during these sessions. Here is the first installment. . .

In the morning session, Bain asked participants to, “Think about the best teacher you’ve ever had; one that had a profound influence on what you feel and think. What were some traits of this teacher?“

Some of the responses. . .

• firm, yet caring
• in love with subject
• moved students into leadership positions
• high expectations, especially for college (even in elementary)
• generosity
• demanding of self & others
• passionate
• well prepared
• good listeners; learned from the students too
• authenticity
• humility
• help students feel comfortable
• belief in the student
• hands-on learning activities
• identify strengths in individuals
• personal (yet, professional) relationship with students
• role model for them; even outside of the classroom
• inspirational
• joy of learning exuded to students
• techniques and process behind learning/how to learn & preparations for learning
• sense of care about topic and self as scholar
• understood why did what done and explained why to the students
• charisma – makes subject come alive; passionate about helping students learn
• encouraging; pushed to do more

What traits, if any, are missing from this list?. . . Click on the COMMENTS link below to get started!

The research-based concept of a “new” paradigm for learning in higher education was originally proposed over a decade ago. In 1995, when the term “paradigm shift” was all the rage, Barr and Tagg described a shift from an instructional paradigm to a learning paradigm. Then in 1997, Smith and Waller set forth over a dozen examples of changing paradigms for learning. More recently, Fink (2003) echoed the need for moving from a content-centered to a learner-centered paradigm, while Bain (2004) uncovered the effectiveness of challenging students’ existing models or paradigms, helping them transform existing understandings into better, more accurate models of truth.

Semantics aside, the change involves a clear shift from one-dimensional, unidirectional teaching to multi-dimensional, multidirectional learning. So why now? Primarily because we live in a changing, connected world, with increasingly complex problems to solve.
What is the Learning Paradigm?
The student-centered learning paradigm is not a new concept, but the implementation of these revised pedagogical strategies has yet to become mainstream in higher education. At the core of the learning paradigm is a foundation of reciprocity between students and faculty. Essentially, it requires active, problem-based, collaborative strategies for both student and faculty learners. The learning paradigm is based on a community of continuous learners—both students and faculty. This change from higher education to continual learning has “learning how to learn” as its valuable product.

Just as early explorers set out to discover new places of potential riches, educators too can set out on their own journey of discovery in learning. Christopher Columbus, who was looking for a new world, certainly found something that resembled a “new” place—unfamiliar people, plants, foods, and treasures. But what he really did was bridge two unconnected land masses already sharing the same water and sky. Similarly, faculty “explorers” of the new learning paradigm can help students connect seemingly distant concepts, creating bridges to deeper, synthesized, and meaningful learning.

Beginning and Continuing the Journey
When working toward changing a paradigm, especially one that may have worked well for us as students, it is important to consider the future—what will our students’ emerging careers be, what skills and knowledge are essential for them to be engaged in their professional worlds, and what paradigms might they face? Our teaching behaviors, our expectations we set for our students, and our students’ learning behaviors must evolve to fit our students’ futures.

Tagg (2003) reminds us that to change our paradigm from teaching to learning is to view education through a new lens—“seeing” our work in a different light and having diverse experiences as we and our students interact to learn. As we peer through the telescope to chart our course toward a new horizon of a learning paradigm, what do we see? Where will BGSU students and faculty travel in their journey toward a learning paradigm? Click on the COMMENTS link below to get started!

• Bain, K. (2004). What the best college teachers do. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
• Barr, R. B., & Tagg, J. (1995). From teaching to learning—A new paradigm for undergraduate education. Change (27) 6, 12-25.
• Fink, L. D. (2003). Creating significant learning experiences: An integrated approach to designing college courses. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
• Smith, K. A., & Waller, A. A. (1997). New paradigms for college teaching. In Campbell, W. E., & Smith, K. A. (Eds.), Paradigms for college teaching (pp.269-281). Edina, MN: Interaction.
• Tagg, J. (2003). The learning college paradigm. Bolton, MA: Anker.

The most recent CTLT newsletter, “Communicating for Learners,” is available online as a PDF. Here is a listing of what’s available in this issue:

• (Article) Support Your Local Teaching Center
• (Article) Scholarly Teaching: The Perpetual Journey
• Visionary Status: Lawrence Lessig
• Did You Know: Online Access to New Directions for Teaching and Learning Journal
• Hot 5 (Websites), featuring: Teaching & Learning Gallery, Zoho, GoodSearch, Preparing Future Faculty, & Jott
• Scheduled Discussions & Workshops for Fall Semester

For previous issues of the Center’s newsletter, see our archives.