New ways to teach neuroscience: integrating two teaching styles with two instructional technologies

Abstract

This report describes an experiment in teaching neuroscience that integrates two teaching styles and two educational technologies: (1) Two-way digitally compressed televideo, used for lecture/discussion simultaneously with on-site and remote students; (2) Asynchronous computer conferencing, used to complement the class periods with student interactions and teacher feedback; (3) Team (collaborative) learning, conducted in the conferencing environment; (4) Assignment activities, both for individuals and learning teams. Each week, each student in a learning team submitted in the on-line conference two insightful questions (Q), based on the lecture and readings. The student then tried to provide a good answer (A) for each question. Then, each group member critiqued and ranked the Q&As from each other member of the group, with the aim of identifying a candidate 'Best Q&A of the Week', which the group members subsequently refined and submitted for a group grade. Students gave high ratings to the course in general and to the team learning, conferencing, and assignment activities. The experience improved the teacher's attitude and enthusiasm for teaching.