Using Team-Based Learning to enhance language skills

1. UsingTeam-BasedLearningtoenhancelanguageskills Milvia Hernandez –hemilv1@umbc.edu Modern Languages, Linguistics and Intercultural CommunicationDept. University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) MFLA FallConference Oct 12, 2013

2. Let’sstart… • Do you use groupactivities? • Howoften do you use groupactivities? • Do youliketo use groupactivities? Why?

3. UsingTeam-BasedLearningtoenhancelanguageskills Goals • Presentanotheralternativetoenhancestudents’ learning and tobecome more responsible of theirownlearning • Gain knowledge in team-based learning and the use of groups in classes to achieve course objectives • Share myexperienceusingTeam-BasedLearning • Exchange of ideas for group activities

4. Whatis TBL? TeamBasedLearning • TBL course, classroom learning occurs in teams. • “Team-Based Learning – A special form of collaborative learning using a specific sequence of individual work, group work and immediate feedback to create a motivational framework in which students increasingly hold each other accountable for coming to class prepared and contributing to discussion.” Michael Sweet- The University of British Columbia • Larry Michaelsencreatedit in the late 1970s in theUniversity of Oklahoma

5. Resourcesbooksby L. Michaelsen

6. TBL elements The essential elements of TBL are successfully implemented: • Groups. Groups must be properly formed and managed. • Accountability. Students must be accountable for the quality of their individual and group work. • Feedback. Students must receive frequent and timely feedback. • Assignment design. Group assignments must promote both learning and team development.

7. Rquiztobegin a unit/chapterApplications:comm. actTeam-Projects: chats, discussionboard, wiki

8. Adaptation of TBL forSpan 103 • SPAN 103 Intensive Review of Elementary Spanish offers a review of basic Spanish grammar, as well as an opportunity to improve the student's listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. • This course has been designed for students who have completed level 3 in high school and who are nevertheless unprepared for SPAN 201

9. TBL phases in SPAN 103 • Phase 1- Preparation:individually reading, specific pages from the textbook, watch some grammar tutorial videos, and/ or complete some exercises • Phase 2-Readiness Quiz (RQ):it’s at the beginning of new chapter. Students will individually take a quiz, called an “Individual Readiness Quiz” (IRQ) Right after taking the IRQ, they take the same quiz with the team, “Group Readiness Quiz” (GRQ). Feedback section: go over RQ and clarify concepts • Phase 3- In class activities: These in-class assignments (on task-comm. act) prepare team for the main project of each chapter (discussion boards, chats, mid-term exams, and other especial project).

10. ReadinessQuiz in span 103

11. Benefits • Students are more engaged in classactivities. • Studentsfeelsupportive of eachother. They are notalone in thelearningprocess. • Sense of community • Students are more preparedduetotheReadinessQuiz • Studentssupport and accept TBL

12. Student survey at the end of Spring 2013 semester

13. Student survey at the end of Spring 2013 semester • Survey gave it to 4 sections of SPAN 103. • Total survey completed 82 • It shows a positive acceptances of TBL • It needs improve on variety of group activities.

14. Results on their grades

15. Some ideas • Listen to some suggested group activities

16. Questions, comments

17. USING TEAM-BASED LEARNING TO ENHANCE LANGUAGE SKILLS Milvia Hernández Spanish Lecturer and Language Coordinator hemilv1@umbc.edu Modern Languages, Linguistics and Intercultural CommunicationDept. Universityof Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC)

18. References Michaelsen, L; Bauman-Knight, A and Dee Fink (2004)TEAM-BASED LEARNING: A transformative use of small group in college Teaching. TBL website: http://www.teambasedlearning.org