A Concise Guide to Improving Student Learning: Six Evidence-Based Principles and How to Apply Them

by Diane Persellin, Mary Blythe Daniels, Michael Reder (Foreword)

This concise guidebook is intended for faculty who are interested in engaging their students and developing deep and lasting learning, but do not have the time to immerse themselves in the scholarship of teaching and learning. Acknowledging the growing body of peer-reviewed literature on practices that can dramatically impact teaching, this intentionally brief Summarizes recent research on six of the most compelling principles in learning and teaching* Describes their application to the college classroom* Presents teaching strategies that are based on pragmatic practices* Provides annotated bibliographies and important citations for faculty who want to explore these topics further This guidebook begins with an overview of how we learn, covering such topics such as the distinction between expert and novice learners, memory, prior learning, and metacognition. The body of the book is divided into three main sections each of which includes teaching principles, applications, and related strategies – most of which can be implemented without extensive preparation.The applications sections present examples of practice across a diverse range of disciplines including the sciences, humanities, arts, and pre-professional programs. This book provides a foundation for the reader explore these approaches and methods in his or her teaching.

Genres: Education

130 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2014

Reviews

[Curt Bobbitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This practical resource cross-references research studies (and studies of studies) about effective college teaching methods, mostly from since 1995. The foreword, introduction, each chapter, and many subsections begin with epigraphs from a variety of historical eras. The book has a Foreword (by Michael Reder), a Preface, Acknowledgements, an Introduction, three numbered and titled chapters, three lettered and titled appendices, a bibliography of 424 items divided by section (causing some overlap), and an index.

Shaded “workshops” provide generalized hints for incorporating the principles into teaching. Each chapter and each appendix contain annotated bibliographies of directly relevant studies. Each section also lists web resources (many videos).

“Principle 1: Desirable Difficulties Increase Long-Term Retention”
“Principle 2: Meaningful and Spaced Repetition Increase Retention”
“Principle 3: Emotion and Relevance Deepen Learning”
“Principle 4: Multisensory Instruction Deepens Learning”
“Principle 5: Small Groups Engage Students”
“Principle 6: Formative Assessment or Low-Stakes Evaluation Strengthens Retention”