Innovation in Teaching

Alan Dix
Lancaster University
www.hcibook.com/alan

note
NOT
presenting best solutions
or best practice
WILL talk about
reflecting on experience
developing solutions

examples ...
driving lesson
p-learning and e-learning
just-in-time theory

driving lesson

what happened
removed external judgement
I didnt know intention

allowed personal feedback

she did know

enabled play and experiment

not goal directed

LOGO and Papert

simple programming language
plus turtle
draw a triangle?
repeat 3
[forward 50 right 60]
http://el.www.media.mit.edu/groups/logo-foundation/

Montessori
self correcting materials
instant feedback
no judgement

http://www.montessori-ami.org/
http://www.modern-montessori.com/

computers
rapid feedback
before bad habits form
e.g. spelling checkers
but not correctors!

low judgement

computer personality
work at Dundee
questionnaires and interviews
personal questions (medical)

electronic versions

simple questionnaires
keyword based (like Elisa)
the more human-like the better
but better than real human

p-learning and e-learning

p-learning

(physical learning)

lectures
tutorials and labs (20-30)
small groups tutorials ?
individual tutorials

p-learning

e-learning

lectures web
labs ?
tutorials bulletin boards & chat
individual one-to-one email

deconstruction and
reconstruction
p-learning
deconstruction

reconstruction

e-learning

deconstruction

find the real objectives

lecture
information, motivation, demonstration

group tutorial
collaboration, individual feedback

lab
+ personal experience, physical materials

reconstruction
potential media & meetings
e-learning:
web, CD-ROM, video, email,
bulletin boards, chat, webcam,
streaming video/audio

p-learning:
weekend course, summer camp,
monthly evening meeting,
paper materials and books

reconstruction
potential media & meetings
e-learning: web, CD-ROM, video, email, webcam,
bulletin boards, chat, streaming video/audio
p-learning: weekend course, monthly evening meeting,
summer camp, paper materials and books

match with objectives

e.g. weekend course for motivation, group
formation, demonstrations and hands on

just-in-time theory

mini-case studies
context
week-log intensive course

when technology doesnt work

analyse why
use it as extended examples

Excel modes
wouldnt close
why?
theory:
hidden mode
closure
www.hcibook.com/alan/casestudy/excel-mode/

does it work?
weakness
knowing it is teaching time

strengths
real example
introduces theory when relevant

ecological validity
examples
one issue at a time

a good solution
from theory to practice

ecological validity
examples
one issue at a time
a good solution
from theory to practice

mini-case study
lots of relevant issues
no easy solution tradeoffs
from practice to theory

passing on knowledge
case studies, examples, patterns
good for use in practice
but how to generalise
textbooks full of theory!

just-in-time theory
appropriate theory when needed

just-in-time theory
appropriate theory
given when needed

contextualised theory
apply theory in actual context
including trade-offs

situated theory
make new theory if necessary

recap ...
driving lesson
feedback, play and judgement

p-learning and e-learning

metamorphose fundamental learning

just-in-time theory
ecologically valid examples,
theory when it matters