FOR FACULTY

The TR+ initiative has moved from incubation to implementation with the on-going conversion of Tutorial Rooms to the TR+ configuration. With this implementation, NTU is poised to scale the heights of educational excellence. As Faculty members, it is timely that all achieve familiarity with the concepts and purpose of TR+.

What is TR+?
In a nutshell it is a re-configuration of the existing Tutorial Rooms to incorporate the latest technology into the classroom. You will find ICT and AV facilities to accommodate the extensive use of laptops. Individual table-armed chairs are replaced by movable tables allowing for group seating arrangements.

Features of the TR+

Space:

Picture 1: Team table, chairs, team LCD display, whiteboards

Six hexagonal  moveable tables

Six chairs with wheels for each table

Power points available on the table top

One rectangular console table at front (parallel to side wall) to accommodate instructor PC, document camera and display switching console

Whiteboards (writing surfaces) around the room

 Seating Capacity: Thirty six students

Technology:

One Interactive Projector

One PC for instructor

One Document Camera

One LCD Panel with projection connection for each table (Positioned for panoramic view). (Six in total)

Console to project display from any table’s laptop, instructor PC or document camera to all LCD Panels and interactive projector (enables you to interact with either the whole class or separately with individual groups of students through sending, receiving and projecting according to your teaching intentions)

Two wired Internet access point per table

Wireless Internet Access

Clickers Channel available to track students responses (Automated Response Device)

Picture 2: Instructor Console Table with touch screen display switching

CELT offers support to faculty and students with university-wide and school-based workshops. . The faculty training calendar can be found in edUtorium at: http://edutorium.ntu.edu.sg/

Why TR+?
It is important that all Faculty understand the concept and purpose of TR+. Teaching methodology has been changing over the years and the concept of Active Learning (or Engaged Learning as preferred by others) has gained much currency. In an on-going study, a booklet on ‘Learning and Teaching’ produced by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation (http://www.phf.org.uk/) noted that the concept of student voice in the class is lacking in legitimacy and children feel a disconnection in learning which is seen as done ‘to’ them rather than ‘with’ them. It also noted that today’s students are very ICT savvy and equipped with out-of-school learning experiences and teachers need to compete for their attention. There is thus a need to move away from the ‘transmitter-recipient’ model and not ‘teach to the test’ where ‘knowing things’ is more important than ‘knowing how to do things.’ Pedagogy therefore needs to change so as to address the cognitive, affective and social aspects of learning.

The concept of ‘active or engaged learning’ is this pedagogical change. Jones, Valdez, Nowakowski, and Rasmussen (1994), in recognizing the needs of the 21st century, developed specific indicators of engaged learning as a ‘compass’ for instruction. They note that successful, engaged learners are responsible for their own learning and powerful models of instruction are interactive, encouraging the learner to construct and produce knowledge in meaningful ways. The classroom should be viewed in the context of a knowledge-building learning community for engaged learning to happen. Grouping for engaged learning has to be heterogeneous as such groups offer a wealth of background knowledge and perspectives to different tasks. The teacher’s role shifts from that of information giver to that of facilitator, guide and learner. He has to mediate, model and coach as well as be a co-learner and co-investigator with the students.

NTU’s TR+ Learning Model
NTU has adopted Purdue University’s model of Pedagogy-Space-Technology which highlights the value and benefits of the interaction between these three pillars. This results in more participative learning where a greater and more active role is taken by the learner.

This model optimizes the use of learning space which allows for the use of ICT and participative and interactive opportunities for the students.
Facilitating in TR+
Bearing the above in mind, Faculty should seek engaged learning through

  • linking students’ learning with real world scenarios, issues and problem-solving so that such learning experiences are meaningful and engaging
  • providing regular feedback such as acknowledging a correct response; prompting a student who gave an incorrect answer with clues or repeating or re-phrasing the question at another level; pointing out areas that need improvement; reviewing concepts and asking questions
  • having students work in groups and presenting solutions to tutorial questions for whole class discussion
  • designing your lessons in TR+ such that they engage a diverse range of students
  • emphasising students’ learning rather than pursuing pre-defined content learning
  • developing questioning and communication skills through accepting and responding to students’ doubts or questions; encouraging open-mindedness in students to allow for multiple and even opposing perspectives and encouraging students to reflect on their assumptions and thought processes
  • developing tutorial content that requires immediate student responses through ‘clickers’ as it would allow for real time interaction so as to increase students’ interest and attentiveness – feedback and assessment in such instances would be instant and improved understanding and motivation would be achieved

 

Do refer to our Resources page for a more comprehensive list of web resources on engaging students using participative and interactive approaches.

 

References:

Viswanathan, G., Gan, C.L., & Looker, P.D. (2011). A Comparative Study of Technology-enabled Small Group Learning Spaces: Student and Faculty Preferences and Perspectives, presented at 6th International Conference on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Singapore.