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w hat motivates students in the traditional classroom ?

w here have all the classrooms gone ? Rejecting traditional classrooms at montana western Robert C. Thomas Environmental Sciences Department The University of Montana Western rob.thomas@umwestern.edu. w hat motivates students in the traditional classroom ?. FEAR.

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w hat motivates students in the traditional classroom ?

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  1. where have all the classrooms gone?Rejecting traditional classrooms at montana westernRobert C. Thomas Environmental Sciences Department The University of Montana Westernrob.thomas@umwestern.edu

  2. what motivates students in the traditional classroom? FEAR

  3. …maybe it’s the lectures? 66.3% of students skip lecture “frequently” Based on 38,538 first-year students at 144 campuses (ERI, 2005)

  4. …theyneed the notes?

  5. …they are highly motivated to learn? I’m ready!

  6. it’s really about curiosity and ownership You Must Touch the Paint! Tell people that there’s an invisible man in the sky who created the universe and the vast majority will believe you. Tell them the paint is wet, and they have to touch it to be sure. …George Carlin

  7. how do we getpeople to want to touch the paint? • Authentic Practice in the Discipline • Aboriginal Learning: • Learning with a mentor (me) through research • The research should cover the core processes (not terminology) of the discipline • The research should make a contribution to the discipline and/or society • Student performance should be evaluated based on work ethic and product quality • Lecture should be limited to the need-to-knowinformation related to the research

  8. what does it take to get this done? • Core Requirements • Be willing to give up the pulpit and textbooks as central to teaching • The student must be willing to match the passion and commitment level of the instructor • Small class sizes, because large classes are made for lecture and mass-production education • Large blocks of time, because research doesn’t happen in 50-minute increments • Contractual and administrative support making this approach central to tenure and promotion

  9. examples of how it works at montana western

  10. what are the outcomes for montana western? • UMW by the numbers (2004-13): • Campus enrollment – up 44.3% • Departmentenrollment – up 120% • Six-year graduation – up 45% • Second-year retention – 88% • * MUS retention = 59% Montana Western NWCCU, 2014

  11. what are the outcomes for montana western students? 92% of Environmental Sciences students at UMW land work in the discipline within two years of graduation – ES Department Data Wilson, 2013

  12. any questions?

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