“How People Learn” Engineering

Workshop on Designing Effective Instruction and Using Supporting Technology Based on VaNTH Research

You are invited to participate
in a research-based workshop to create learning environments and lessons that develop innovative engineers.

Come and work with fellow engineers
to apply current learning theory (see the National Research Council publication How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School, 1999) as you develop ideas tailored for a specific course that you teach.

Bring your thoughts about course content objectives and desired student outcomes (download and print preliminary resource materials and workshop activities) and learn how to adapt some of the things you already do to make them more effective, plus gain some new ideas – and share ideas with others.

Dates:

January 8-9, 2007

February 5-6, 2007

April 16-17, 2007

May 7-8, 2007

Time:8:00 – 3:30*
Register: http://www.vanth.org/HPL_workshop/register
Location:Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Hotel: Blocks of rooms have been reserved for each date.
Cost: Per university, $500 registration for 1 to 3 persons 

Note: Special scholarships and stipends are available for up to 6 attendees per workshop. Applicants approved for funding will receive a free registration and a $2,000 cash stipend for attendance at the full workshop. Scholarship applications must be completed by November 10, 2006.  Awards will be made by November 21st.  High priority criteria for funding include the following:
  1. Applicant holds a teaching position as a faculty member at a non-VaNTH institution.
  2. Applicant agrees to implement some phase of the HPL system during the next 2 years and provides feedback on experience.
  3. Applicant is accompanied by a teaching colleague from the same institution (colleague will receive free registration but not a stipend).
Presenters Include:
Thomas R. Harris, M.D., Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering
Stacy Klein, Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering
Alene Harris, Ph.D., Teaching & Learning
Larry Howard, Sr. Research Scientist, Institute for Software Integrated Systems
Robert Roselli, Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering
Anita Mahadevan-Jansen, Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering
Chris Rowe, M.E., Engineering Science
And more...
*light breakfast and lunch provided

Agenda

BEFORE THE WORKSHOP
  • Identifying course to modify
  • Identifying course objectives and desired outcomes (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998)
  • Identifying real-world linkages for course content objectives (a contextualizing of course objectives)
  • Developing a course concept map (a visual representation of relationships among key course concepts, skills, and values)
  • Prioritizing course content objectives
 DAY ONE DAY TWO
MORNING
  • Introducing ourselves and discovering in-workshop collaboration opportunities
  • Examining your personal goals for the workshop
  • Reviewing (briefly) the history of HPL Legacy Cycle modules in VaNTH courses
  • Examining the component parts of HPL learning theory and Legacy Cycle lesson design
  • Working through an abbreviated bioengineering-based Legacy Cycle module
  • Reviewing additional examples of Legacy Cycle modules , including an introduction to CAPE-related support technology
  • Understanding how on-line courseware differs from a website
  • Introducing the basic elements of CAPE—concepts and vocabulary
  • Using your existing web materials with CAPE
  • Designing activity flows in CAPE
  • Authoring and using formative assessments in CAPE
  • Representing knowledge in CAPE
AFTERNOON
  • Applying HPL design to your pre-selected course
    • Revisiting/refining your course objectives to determine acceptable evidence and plan assessments to be used
    • Designing effective, real-world challenges to engage students with the content
    • Identifying appropriate learning activities incorporating HPL elements
    • Reviewing Legacy Cycle lesson design for your course
  • Sharing some initial module ideas with fellow workshop participants for feedback
  • Applying HPL design and CAPE technology to your pre-selected course
    • Reviewing Legacy Cycle lesson design for your course with CAPE in mind
    • Revisiting appropriate learning activities incorporating HPL elements with CAPE in mind
    • Collaborating, designing, and developing a Legacy Cycle module
  • Presenting lesson module ideas to fellow workshop participants for feedback
  • Making brief written commitments for module implementation and follow-up activities
AFTER THE WORKSHOP
  • Assessing module implementation and effectiveness with defined rubrics (electronic or face-to-face)
  • Engaging in conferencing activities (electronic or face-to-face) to reflect on the module and modify it as needed
  • Optional - Making piloted modules available to other engineering faculty who have participated in a VaNTH Lesson Design workshop through an electronic repository