Have you ever ever questioned what makes a course extremely efficient? Should you needed to concentrate on one, two, or three important elements, what would they be? Would you emphasize a supportive studying surroundings, cognitive and affective studying, pedagogical design, important content material, creating assessments, offering suggestions, integrating know-how, or one thing totally different? Reflecting on my years in academia, I discover myself more and more drawn to the problem of designing the optimum class—one which not solely engages college students but in addition maximizes scholar studying. Why do some courses depart an indelible mark on college students, whereas others rapidly fade from reminiscence? As you consider this activity, I hope this train provides a stimulating mental endeavor: an opportunity to replicate and enhance one’s educating.
Maybe I’m taking the simple approach out by emphasizing pedagogical design, because it may very well be argued {that a} well-designed course naturally incorporates the entire above elements. That stated, what’s it about an optimally designed class that resonates so deeply with my internal instructor? Merely, it’s the approach it combines cognitive and academic psychology—how folks be taught—with the scholarship of educating and studying (SoTL), which focuses on how educators’ research and enhance their educating to extend scholar studying (McKinney, 2007). This convergence of principle and educating observe provides one perspective for creating an optimum studying expertise.
An Anticipatory Set
For me, a well-designed class begins with an anticipatory set and a evaluation of prior studying. These actions work collectively to interact college students, activate their prior data, and put together them for brand new content material. An anticipatory set, for instance, may ask college students to brainstorm occasions after they utilized data in real-world settings. This method not solely sparks curiosity but in addition helps college students join the fabric to their private experiences, facilitating affective studying. Following this, a evaluation of prior studying solidifies what college students have already realized and creates a transition to new materials. By linking new content material to present data, college students transfer from studying in isolation to constructing significant connections. Collectively, these methods cut back cognitive load (Sweller, Van Merrienboer, & Cross, 2019), permitting college students to focus their psychological vitality on deeper understanding and utility.
The Supply
Subsequent comes the supply of recent studying, which could be achieved by varied strategies corresponding to assigned readings, reside or pre-recorded lectures, class discussions, flipped classroom actions, or small group work. The important thing to presenting new materials successfully is managing cognitive load—guaranteeing college students aren’t overwhelmed by overly lengthy or complicated shows. For example, lecturing for prolonged durations with out breaks, poorly structured group work, or utilizing know-how and not using a clear objective can enhance cognitive load and hinder studying. When college students are required to pay attention for lengthy durations or expend pointless psychological vitality, their skill to course of and retain data decreases.
Current and Observe
After presenting new content material, it’s essential to supply college students with alternatives to observe what they’ve realized. This might take the type of a no-point or low-stakes quiz, a case research, group work, or perhaps a reflective exercise. These observe alternatives not solely reinforce studying but in addition permit instructors to supply instant suggestions and steering, serving to college students refine their understanding of the fabric.
Abstract Assertion
Lastly, an efficient class concludes with a technique to summarize key factors. This may contain asking college students to write down a abstract assertion, join course ideas to studying outcomes, or collaborate to create mock examination questions. These actions encourage college students to make significant connections between new and prior studying, solidifying their understanding and getting ready them for future studying.
Approaching your course with a watch for cognitive load means that you can scaffold studying in methods which are each environment friendly and grounded in efficient studying analysis. By rigorously managing how new materials is introduced, offering alternatives for observe, and inspiring college students to attach new data to prior studying, you create a classroom surroundings the place college students can thrive. Furthermore, adopting a SoTL mindset empowers educators to repeatedly replicate on their educating practices, determine what works, and make significant enhancements—all with the aim of scholar studying.
Reflection
As you replicate by yourself educating, think about this: What small change might you make in your subsequent class to higher handle cognitive load or foster deeper connections between new and prior studying? Maybe it’s rethinking the way you introduce new materials, designing a low-stakes observe exercise, or incorporating a summarization technique on the finish of a category. No matter it might be, keep in mind that educating is an iterative course of, and even small changes can have a constructive impression on college students. By embracing these ideas and committing your self to ongoing reflection and enchancment, you not solely improve your educating but in addition mannequin in your college students the way to turn out to be lifelong learners.
Michael Kiener is a professor at Maryville College of St. Louis of their Medical Psychological Well being Counseling program. For the previous 10 years he has coordinated their Scholarship of Educating and Studying Program, the place college take part in a yearlong program with a aim of improved scholar studying. In 2012 and 2024 he acquired the Excellent College Award for college who finest reveal excellence within the integration of educating, scholarship and/or service. He has over thirty publications together with a co-authored e-book on strength-based counseling and journal articles on profession determination making, motion analysis, counseling pedagogy, and energetic and dynamic studying methods.
References
McKinney, Okay. 2007. Enhancing studying by the scholarship of educating and studying: The challenges and joys of juggling. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Sweller, J., Van Merriënboer, J. and Paas, F. 2019. Cognitive structure and Tutorial Design: 20 Years Later. Academic Psychology Evaluate 31, (2): 261-292.
