Technology and the Conative Learning Domain in Undergraduate Education

1. Technology and the Conative Learning Domain in Undergraduate Education Professor Thomas C. Reeves The University of Georgia

3. Marie Jasinski

4. Topics • The conative domain • Authentic learning design and assessment • The role of technology

5. We don’t know enough about the outcomes of teaching and learning in higher education. • It is convenient for everyone involved to pretend that high quality, relevant teaching and learning are occurring.

6. Film Clip from “Declining by Degrees” by John Merrow and Learning Matters

7. “Quality” ratings of universities & colleges by commercial entities have enormous impact in the USA today.

8. The criteria used for these rankings are surprisingly dubious.

9. Film Clip from “Declining by Degrees” by John Merrow and Learning Matters

10. What should we expect our students to learn in higher education?

11. Traditional Learning Domains • Cognitive • Affective • Psychomotor

12. Cognitive Domain What we say we value Evaluation Synthesis Analysis Application What we teach and test Comprehension Knowledge

13. Affective Domain Characterization by Value Set Organization Valuing Responding Receiving

14. Psychomotor Domain Non-discursive Communication Skilled Movements Physical Activities Perceptual Skills Basic Fundamental Movement Reflex Movement

15. Unfortunately, we have neglected the conative domain.

16. Conative Domain • Will

17. Conative Domain • Will • Desire

18. Conative Domain • Will • Desire • Level of effort

19. Conative Domain • Will • Desire • Level of effort • Drive

20. Conative Domain • Will • Desire • Level of effort • Drive • Striving

21. Conative Domain • Will • Desire • Level of effort • Drive • Striving • Mental energy

22. Conative Domain • Will • Desire • Level of effort • Drive • Striving • Mental energy • Self-determination

23. Conative Domain • Will • Desire • Level of effort • Drive • Striving • Mental energy • Self-determination • Intention

24. Conative Domain • Will • Desire • Level of effort • Drive • Striving • Mental energy • Self-determination • Intention

25. History of the Conative Domain Orexis: (Greek) Striving; desire; the conative aspect of mind Aristotle

26. cognitive affective conative

27. Thought Feelings Behavior

28. Cognition Affection Conation

29. History of the Conative Domain • The conative domain as well as the affective were eliminated by the behaviorist movement and “rat psychology.” • “What good is it to add invisible states such as motivation and emotion to explain behavior?”

30. History of the Conative Domain • Skinner maintained that humans lack will or intentionality. • Thinking we have a will is a product of our past conditioning and current environmental influences.

31. History of the Conative Domain In the 1950’s, Harry Harlow restored the affective domain to respectability.

32. History of the Conative Domain Studies of affection with baby monkeys and wire, cloth, and real mothers began to undermine the behavioral dominance of the times.

33. History of the Conative Domain Amazon search yields only one contemporary book about the conative domain.

34. To know Thinking Thought Epistemology Knowing To feel Feeling Emotion Esthetics Caring Cognitive – Affective – Conative • To act • Willing • Volition • Ethics • Doing

35. Can we restore the conative domain to its proper place in higher education?

36. “…today's teens are recasting the image of youth from downbeat and alienated to upbeat and engaged.”

37. Generational Differences • Boomers, Gen Xers, and the Net Gen • Most of research done with elites using poor sampling • Generalizations are extremely under-supported by data • Caution is advised

38. Proper Caution Having grown up with widespread access to technology, the New Gen is able to intuitively use a variety of IT devices and navigate the Internet. Although they are comfortable using technology without an instruction manual, their understanding of the technology or source quality may be shallow.

39. “Today's young people have been raised to aim for the stars at a time when it is more difficult than ever to get into college, find a good job, and afford a house. Their expectations are very high just as the world is becoming more competitive, so there's a huge clash between their expectations and reality.”

40. depression, • crushing disappointment, • credit card debt, • student loans, • divorce-like breakups, • health-insurance, • real estate prices, • recession

41. Narcissism abounds! • express grandiose fantasies • make demands on others out of sense of entitlement • devalue others who threaten self-esteem • anger if their expectations are not met Narcissist* *and proud of it

43. Jean Twenge

44. In 2002, 74% of high school students admitted to cheating whereas in 1969 only 34% admitted such a failing.

45. An A or else…. In 2004, 48% of American college freshmen reported earning an A average in high school whereas in 1968 only 18% of freshmen reported being an A student in high school.

46. In the 1950s, only 12% of young teens agreed with the statement “I am an important person” whereas by the late 1980s, 80% claimed they were important. It’s all about me.

47. In the 1960s, 42% of high school students expected to work in professional jobs whereas in the late 1990s, 70% of high schools expected to work as a professional.

48. 60% could not name a single supreme court judge • 48% did not know what Roe vs. Wade was • 62% could not name a country in Bush’s Axis of Evil

49. 21st Century Outcomes • Accessing and using information • Communication skills • Demonstrating understanding • Applying rules and procedures • Being creative • Thinking critically • Making sound judgments • Problem-solving • Life-long learning • Exhibiting intellectual curiosity

50. Let’s face it.Assessment drives learning.