Good Principles of Learning
Many instructors look at the seven principles for learning developed by Arthur Checkering and Stephen Ehrmann in 1996 as basic guidelines for teaching. The seven principles for learning were developed as guidelines for instructors to improve teaching and learning.
However, when approached from the student’s point of view, they provide excellent guidelines to share with students so students understand what they need to do to be more successful. It has been said that what is taught is as important as how it is taught, but how it is taught may have more of an impact on learning than the content itself. Review the seven principles of good practice and share them with your students:
- encourage contact between students and instructor,
- develop reciprocity and cooperation among students,
- encourage active learning,
- provide prompt feedback,
- emphasize time on task,
- communicate high expectations, and
- respect diverse talents and ways of learning.
I would like to add a comment here, specific to encouraging active learning. This is a skill for the facilitator to hone into. One way I do so is to follow the ABC rule in discussion forums. A - Acknowledge what the student has written; B - Back it up with readings for the week or other resources or even my own personal or professional experiences; C - Continue active learning by asking a question (probing or Socratic Questionning Techniques).
I also require students to ask questions at the end of their responses and find that they appreciate the opportunity to learn how to ask questions, as well as they comment on the depth of responses in the discussion forum.
I would like to hear of other strategies people have with regards to encourging active learning
