I noticed the same thing this morning in a Pharm TBL. I can’t say it was 100% but a lot of students had pens in their hands. I noticed because two students sitting next to each other were spinning the pins at the same time. Then I looked around as saw others. This sounds like someone needs to do a study of the mind/hand/tRAT link.
Bill----
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William Brescia, Ph.D.
Director of Instructional Technology
Assistant Professor of Preventive Medicine
Office of Medical Education
University of
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From: Team-Based Learning [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sweet, Michael S
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2011 12:07 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Interesting observation
That is a totally cool observation.
It seems to be a small step from using a physical tool (a pen) to using intellectual tools (concepts).
Very, very cool.
-M
From: Team-Based Learning [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Herbert Coleman
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2011 11:44 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Interesting observation
Now that the semester is over, I wanted to check and see if anyone else has noticed what I found to be an interesting observation. I can't believe I've never noticed it before. I've been using TBL for 3 years now and I just noticed something about student engagement during the T-RATs. About mid way through the semester, I started noticing when my classes were taking the T-RAT how many students in each group had a pen in there hand. One class period I actually documented it. The higher performing groups had all or most of the members with a pen in their hand evethough only one student was recording the answers. Since I use clickers, typically one student will hold the paper form of the test, read the questions out loud and then mark the agreed upon answer. Another student will hold the clicker and enter the answers either as they work through the T-RAT or at the end. It was the pen holding behavior that I found particularly interesting. In one high performing group, not only did everyone have their pen in their hand but they gestured with it often pointing to items on the paper and frequently one or more student would draw a diagram in the white space to explain a concept.
Even more intriguing is that the lower performing teams often only had one person with pen in hand. Their body language also suggested less involvement (leaning back, slouching vs. leaning forward toward the group and the paper).
Next semester, I plan to pay closer attention and document during each T-RAT the pen holding behavior and body positions of individuals and groups during T-RAT's.
--
Herb Coleman, Ph.D
Dir. Instructional Computing and Technology
Adjunct Professor of Psychology
Austin Community College
Highland Business Center
5930 Middle Fiskville Rd.
Austin, TX 78752
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512-223-7746
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