Hi Don,

Here's the language that I use in my course outlines. I think it's a compliation of things from Michaelsen's book and Mweesen's course (described on the TBL website). Karla

Course Rationale/ Design:

This course aims to enable the student to achieve a lasting change in capability for performing in all six areas of Fink (2003)'s 'taxonomy of significant learning' (Fink, 2003). The table below illustrates Fink’s taxonomy.

Taxonomy of Significant Learning
Area	Description
Foundational knowledge	Understanding and remembering information and ideas
Application knowledge	Thinking critically, creatively, and practically
Integration knowledge	Connecting ideas, people, and realms of life
Human dimension knowledge	Learning about oneself and others
Caring knowledge	Developing new feelings, interests, and values
Learning knowledge	Becoming a more self-directing, student

With this aim in mind, the course will be taught using team-based learning (Michaelsen, Knight, & Fink, 2002). Team-based learning is different than traditional teaching in two main ways. The first is in the use of the 'readiness assurance process' and the second is in the use of application-focused assignments (i.e., for both individuals and teams). The readiness assurance process is designed to help the student master the course material. It does this by exposing the student to the material multiple times (and in multiple ways) and by providing immediate feedback/ clarification of troublesome concepts.

The readiness assurance process is a forward-looking assessment, including five different activities: (a) individual pre-class preparation; (b) the individual Readiness Assessment Test (RAT); (c) the team RAT (taken using an IF-ATC form); (d) the team appeals process; and (e) the post-RAT instructor feedback. Both individual and team RATs will be administered using a split-answer format (i.e., a format in which students can earn partial credit for their answers) and will consist of 10-15 multiple-choice questions (assessing mostly foundational and application knowledge). Test Blueprints for each RAT will be available via Blackboard and students will be allowed to refer to their ‘handwritten’ notes (one 8 ½ by 11 sheet per chapter) during the RATs. The application-focused individual and team assignments will include both topic-specific and integrative assignments (of a variety of types) focused on achieving application and integration knowledge. Finally, the experience of working with one another during the team RATs and assignments will develop human dimension knowledge, caring knowledge, and learning knowledge.

Assessments/ Weightings:

I. Individual Performance (between 60 and 75% of total score***)

A. Individual RATs (35% of individual performance total)

B. Integrative Individual Assignments (35% of individual performance total)

C. Final Exam (30% of individual performance total)

II. Team Performance (between 15 and 30% of total score***)

A. Team RATs (60% of team performance total)

B. Integrative Team Assignments (40% of team performance total)

III. Team Maintenance (i.e., as assessed by peer evaluation/ between 5 and 15% of total score***)

*** Weightings are approximate. Exact weightings will be set during the 'Grade Weight Setting'/ team building exercise.