Park University: CETL - Dr. Bain's Presentation

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Ken Bain's Presentation Highlights

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I. Understanding the Learner

Learners typically use existing models to understand new realities (which can make teaching new concepts a challenge). Learners use past paradigms to input new information, however, learning requires us to create new paradigms or shift existing ones.

Students are conditioned away from natural learning and curiosity (Edward Deci .—motivation goes down when learner feels loss of locus of control . i.e. when people feel manipulated or controlled.)

II. What the Best College Teachers Do

The best college teachers in Bain's 15 year study all shared three common conditions:

they created a learning environment in which students. existing paradigms did not work (i.e. creating an .expectation failure. or intellectual challenge).
they created a learning environment in which students cared that their existing model didn't work, and required them to engage in metacognition.
they created a learning environment that provide students with emotional support as they confront the challenges to deeply held beliefs

III. Recommendations to Improve Practice

Tap into childhood curiosity (with enthusiasm, caring, and meaningful course construction)
Students are most likely to learn deeply when they try to solve a problem that is relevant to them, to current events in their lives, etc.
Find and ask the .big questions. that students will find intriguing.
Use stories, case studies, etc. and get students involved first, then introduce theory and concepts.
Ask yourself, 'what are the mental paradigms that I will want to get my students to chall enge? How can I create an expectation failure that they will care about?'

The Challenge: pose that one question to a colleague and see if they would take your course.

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