Gray and Peters

Student and Instructor Experiences with Types of Teaching and Learning

Emily Gray & Dr. John Peters, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.

Abstract:

This action research project sought to describe the experiences of students and instructor with three types of teaching and learning in a redesigned computer applications course. The instructor-researcher hoped to gain a better understanding of her pedagogy and to contribute to related literature. Peters and Armstrong’s (1998) typology of teaching and learning served as the framework for introduction of two additional types of pedagogies (discussion groups and collaborative learning) into a course traditionally taught utilizing predominately only one type (lecture). Students were interviewed immediately after the course ended and asked to describe their experiences in the course. Results show that what stood out for students were the increased interactions among students and between students and the instructor, attention to process, and the transferability of knowledge developed during class. Results led to changes in future course design and delivery as well as plans for publication.