News Article
At M.I.T., Large Lectures Are Going the Way of the Blackboard
New York Times, By SARA RIMER, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/us/13physics.html?pagewanted=all
The physics department has replaced the traditional large introductory lecture with smaller classes that emphasize hands-on, interactive, collaborative learning. Last fall, after years of experimentation and debate and resistance from students, who initially petitioned against it, the department made the change permanent. Already, attendance is up and the failure rate has dropped by more than 50 percent.
This has been the situation at United State Military Academy for years.
“Just as you can’t become a marathon runner by watching marathons on TV,” Professor Mazur said, “likewise for science, you have to go through the thought processes of doing science and not just watch your instructor do it.”
Instead of blackboards, the walls are covered with white boards and huge display screens. Circulating with a team of teaching assistants, the professor makes brief presentations of general principles and engages the students as they work out related concepts in small groups.
The new approach at M.I.T. is known by its acronym, TEAL, for Technology Enhanced Active Learning.
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