Learning to Teach: Talking Heads vs. Student Collaboration n Herb Thompson n Department of Economics n American University in Cairo n

QUESTIONS n Who has used WebCT or another online teaching tool and Why? n Who has regularly used an online discussion forum? n Who has ever joined a non-academic chat room? n Who has set up a blog? n Who has created a public “Homepage” or website? n Who has not done any of the above?

Outline n Scope of “Seachange” – Gramsci on Education Gramsci on Education – Vygotsky on Education Vygotsky on Education – Lev Vygotsky Lev Vygotsky n Creation of Interactive Learning Space n Student’s views n Redesigning Economics – Results?

Scope of “Seachange” n Potential: Technology - Vygotsky: “(computer) alters flow and structure of thought…” – Joint Courses: Physics/Economics & Georgia/Perth – Students creating/sharing/archiving for entire class – Asynchronous reflective thinking and sharing – Hyperlinked library: Intra, Extra, Inter & Hyper links n Potential: Pedagogy – Vygotsky: “zone of proximal development” – Students take control of classroom via facilitator – Promote value of student collaboration – Guide students through infinite knowledge-spaces – Sharing, collaborating, customising, mediating

Interactive Learning Centre n Barriers: Institutional and Ceremonial n Teacher/Learner dialectic – Learning Skills evaluation Learning Skills evaluation – Presentations -.ppt – Interactive games and group activities n Survivor – equity, group, individual and/or selective n Survey teams – contingency valuation n Formal debates with peer assessment

Interactive Learning Centre (cont) – One minute summaries of previous 20 minutes talking head. – 5 minutes for discussion of previous 20 minutes and preparation of group questions. – Auction 20 minute presentations for bonus points – issues relevant to chapter – Computer searches for alternative voices– “econ of beating baby seals to death”! – WebCT discussion forum 24/7 – Learning Journal – Nextaris

Interactive Learning Centre (cont) n Potentialities: – Nonlinear rationality – Shifting world views – Destabilising power relations n Must accept walking the edge of chaos n Respect comes from facilitation, not intimidation

Student Presentation n WebCT WebCT n Nextaris – Nextaris – Meg Meg – Rami Rami – Bushra & Amr Bushra & Amr – Sara Sara – Hiba Hiba – Mohamed Mohamed

Redesigning Economics - Results n Description and Methods – 2 parallel sections offered (traditional and innovative n Available Data – Learning Skills evaluation – Pre and Post Course Test Results – Final Exam and Final Grades – Student Evaluations – SGID Instructional Diagnosis n Caveat

Referencing n Articles Articles n Selected References found in above articles Selected References found in above articles

Conclusion n QUESTIONS/COMMENTS/DISCUSSION n BLOG? BLOG?