Most Memorable Learning: Secrets Revealed Dr. Tanya McCossMcCoss-Yerigan
IJAS International Conference March 2011
Background & Purpose
Engage Educators in Critical Reflection Facilitate Educator Discussion Create Learning Opportunities 12 Year Longitudinal Study 302 K-12 Educators
Research Goals Determine Impact of Educational Experiences Determine Classroom Applications
Research Sample 302 Practicing K-12 Educators Graduate School Students Rural Midwestern School District Employees
Methods Mixed Methodology: Qualitative & Quantitative Series of Semi-Structured Open-Ended Interview Questions Self-Reflection (302 individual reflections) Focus Group Discussion (60 small groups w/a average size of 5) Large Group Reporting, Probing & Discussion (10 w/average of 30 educators present at each)
Methods New Understanding Large Group Discussion Focus Group Discussions
Individual Reflection
Self Reflection Phase 1
Written Reflections - 5 Minutes Each Question #1: As a learner, what were your best learning experiences? Question #2: As a learner, what were your worst learning experiences? Question #3: What was the deciding factor that prompted you to select education as a career?
Focus Group Development Phase 11
Self-Selected Focus Groups Diversity Emphasis
Geographic School District Discipline Age Experience (years teaching) Gender
Focus Groups Tasks Phase 11 Continued
Select Recorder/Speaker Share & Discuss Written Reflections Develop Comprehensive Lists of Responses (Separate list for each of the three open-ended questions)
Large Group Sharing Phase 111
Researcher Posts Three Sheets of Newsprint (each interview question at the top of a separate sheet)
Researcher Facilitates Large Group Discussion w/Smaller Focus Groups Reporting Facilitator Records Key Experiences & Checks for Understanding
Most Significant Finding 100% of responses were directly focused on a TEACHER! This demonstrates the profound responsibility teachers have…whether they want it or not.
350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Knew Content Home Visits Reasonable Attended Events Took Time w/Me Understood… Inspiring Parent-Like Life Experience Welcoming Flexible Loved Teaching Passionate Valued Student… High Expectations Role Model Celebrated… Personal Stories Personal Connection Believed in Me Hands on Experiential Discussion Based Fair Helpful Remembered… Compassionate Interested Humorous Fun Respectful Caring
Question #1:Responses Teachers…
A Few Significant Findings
302 Participants 5,927 Responses (average of 20 responses each) .03% (2 of 5,927) CONTENT 99.97% (5,925 of 5,927) SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL 99% of Participants Indicated CARING
Best Learning Experiences Social/Emotional vs. Content/Curriculum
STATISTICAL FINDINGS: 99.3% Report Best Learning Experiences are Social/Emotional Based
300 250
.7% (less than 1%) Report Best Learning Experiences are Content/Curriculum Based
200 150 100 50 0 Social Content
300 2
Question #2: Responses Responses to Question #2 were, with over 95% accuracy, the exact opposite response of Question #1. For example: If a subject responded to #1 stating humorous, for #2 he stated no sense of humor.
Findings If another teacher intervened with a student who had a “worst learning experience�, it ultimately became a positive learning experience. Example
What was the deciding factor that made you go into education?
Question #3: Findings 300 250 200 150 100 50 0
248
Loves Kids
225 154
148 63
47 13
Promotes Family Life Positive Learning Experience Negative Learning Experience Ability to Coach Family of Educators Summers Off
Question #3: Findings
There is little statistical difference in the number of participants selecting the field of education due to negative learning experience versus a positive learning experiences. 51% of participants who had a positive learning experience, stated that they decided to be an educator to provide others with the same quality experience they had. 49% of participants who had a negative learning experience, stated that they decided to be an educator to provide others with a more positive experience than they had.
Large Group Final Thoughts These masters-level educators expected the reported experiences to be predominantly content-based. All 302 participants expressed shock over the results. The power a teacher holds extends far beyond the delivery of content or subject matter. Each of the 10 large group discussions and 60 focus group discussions yielded very similar statistics when compared to the overall findings. The geographic location within the Midwest did NOT make a difference when compared to the overall findings. The most powerful realization from the participants is best summarized in the following quote‌
Students Don’t Care What You Know… Until They Know You Care!
What does this all mean?
Classroom Lessons The most memorable learning takes place within relationships - - establish them with your students! A caring atmosphere is foundational for learning- don’t skip this. Build this foundation by integrating caring gestures into the curriculum! Once you’ve established a caring atmosphere and built a relationship, the stage is set for learning.
Questions