MAILING LISTS

RE: Handling loud critics?Everyone,

I want to thank so many members of this list who have replied to my request
for information about their use of TBL for the first time.  I will be
writing this paper up in the next month or so and plan to post the finished
product back to the list around mid-May.  You have all given a great deal to
me, I am sincerely grateful, and I look forward to giving back.

In that vein, I received this good suggestion (particularly good for very
large classes) in response to my post about how folks handle loud critics:

"We used (and continue to use) a student liaison group to work with me
(course director).  Many times the students have given very good,
constructive criticism that helped make the method work well for that group
of students."  -Kathryn K. McMahon, Ph.D. Texas Tech University

Since TBL gives students so much more of a *voice* in how their classroom
experience unfolds, I would be grateful to hear about times when they used
that voice to *resist* TBL itself.

My paper is about the teacher's subjective/emotional experience of using
TBL, and moments of strong, public student resistence can be among the most
emotionally trying for some instructors.

Any anecdotes, tips or strategies you can share will greatly benefit my
project.

Thanks again.

-Michael



-----Original Message-----
From: Team Learning Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Michael Sweet
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 11:40 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Handling loud critics?
Hey Everyone,
In my data collection about first-time TBL experiences, a theme is beginning
to develop around what can make a TBL class "go bad."  Specifically, a loud
critic or group of critics can generate an infectious negative classroom
atmosphere that festers and worsens.
I am curious how many of you have experienced this and what strategies you
used in the moment to respond to the critic but hold your ground (what
worked?  what did *not* work?).
Information on this pivotal moment in the social development of the
classroom will be VERY helpful.
I know of one teacher who had a great first experience with TBL, but her
second class mutinied so dramatically that it scared her back to
chalk-n-talk.
Help me prevent that from happening again!
-M