Episode 13: How to Create Authentic, Engaging, and Meaningful Learning Experiences with Dr. Joshua Eyler
Description: Our guest on episode 13 of the Lecture Breakers podcast is Dr. Joshua Eyler. Josh is the Director of Faculty Development and Director of the Thinkforward Quality Enhancement Plan at the University of Mississippi. He is also a faculty member in the Department of Writing and Rhetoric.
I invited Josh to the show after reading his book How Humans Learn. He grabbed my attention specifically in chapter 4 when he discussed the idea of prolonged lecturing. This is the idea that instructors talk most of the time and there’s very little, if any, interaction with students.
Josh explains that these types of environments are not authentic. They don’t resemble the natural circumstances under which we learn.
I really appreciate this perspective about lecturing because as we know, lecturing has its place. It’s a teaching strategy just like using discussions or case studies or demonstrations.
But it’s this clarification of the different types of lectures that I find intriguing and one that we need to discuss more in higher education.
I also asked Josh about his advice on how to leverage technology and prevent it from becoming a distraction in the classroom. And, we talk about how to get other colleagues on board with breaking up their lectures and trying new things in their courses.
He shares some great advice that I hope will be helpful as you think about your own professional development in teaching.
Memorable Quotes:
"It's okay to lecture...just not for too long!"
Show Notes: (listed in the order the resource was mentioned on the show)
- Get Josh's book How Humans Learn. WVU Press | Amazon
- Listen to episode 2 of the Lecture Breakers podcast: Not All Active Learning Strategies Are Created Equal
- Read more about Classroom Assessment Techniques such as the one minute paper and clearest point, muddiest point.
- Consider these 4 approaches to encourage colleagues to shift their perspective and try new teaching strategies: (1) lead with the research; (2) cultivate relationships with colleagues who are well respected by their peers and by students for being great teachers; (3) surveying faculty to find out what they are most interested in; and (4) recognition.
- Learn more about Dr. Eric Mazur's Peer Instruction Model.
- Try Poll Everywhere to increase audience engagement and get real-time feedback.
- Connect with Josh on Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Learn more about the POD Network's events and conferences.
- Connect with Josh's work (and contact info) at the University of Mississippi's Center for Excellence in Teaching.
- Learn more about the series of books focused on teaching and learning in higher education and published through WVU Press.
- Join the free Lecture Breakers Facebook group.
- Don't miss an episode! Be sure to subscribe to the show!
Transcript:
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