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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

TCC:  HIPS Institute Follow-up Interview with Suzanne Olsen (ESOL/TRS)


 

Suzanne Olsen (ESOL/TRS) participated in the Collaborative Learning strand of 2016 High Impact Practices Summer Institute for Faculty: Growing a High Impact Culture through Course Redesign.  Here are her reflections 8 months after the Institute.

How have you implemented what you learned about Collaborative Learning at the HIPs Institute?

--   More partner work – every ‘long’ class, includes working on problems with different partners.

--   More teamwork – though not used as often, students are formed into about three teams where they need to agree among themselves on the answers and then present the results to the class.

-- More hands-on activities – such as creating their own word problems, and then presenting them to the class for them to solve.

-- Improved Communication – students share their phone numbers with me, so that they can immediately ask questions and share their concerns.

What were some highlights from your class last fall?  Or, now?

I learned a lot by trial error in Fall Semester. I learned what worked well, what didn’t, and what needed to be changed or omitted.  The activities that survived the scrutiny of the first semester of use are listed above.

What are your next steps with Collaborative Learning?

I intend to continue using these techniques in all my classes. I plan to not just use what is my current ‘toolbox’, but to continue creating new activities and techniques.

What impact have you seen on your students?

Though unexpected, the biggest impact was the remarkably improved attitude of the students to each other.  They care more about each other; volunteering to help struggling students, lending a helping hand by sharing materials.  The class has been a happier and more caring place to be.  Also, the retention rate was much higher—there were no withdrawals in the Fall.

By having every students’ text number, we share immediate communication.  Here are examples.  They text me if they:

--   are going to be late or absent,

--   don’t understand a homework problem

--   are concerned about a grade

--   are happy about a grade

What are some challenges that you needed to overcome?

Having students whose ages range from 18 to 50+, there has been reluctance to partner and form teams.  This was the biggest challenge. They felt too comfortable working individually that they didn’t want to move.  All eventually did.

Gena Merliss
Teaching and Creativity Center
04/26/2017