Our Experience Adapting Team Based Learning (TBL) for Online Teaching: Our New Normal
Abstract
In response to COVID-19, we rapidly transitioned our three-hour sessions (comprising lecture, tutorial, and practical components) for ‘Human Body 1’ to an interactive online format from 20S2. We decided to adapt a TBL approach as it lends itself to Zoom delivery in combination with other platforms, is associated with high levels of active student participation, and incorporates many assessment touchpoints – creating new opportunities for feedback and longitudinal performance monitoring1.
Our approach involved flipping and chunking lecture content, supplemented by knowledge-check activities with automated feedback as pre-work. Weekly Zoom sessions started with an individual readiness assurance test (RAT) comprising 10 multiple-choice-questions; immediately followed by the same RAT, completed by student teams in separate breakout rooms – all via Blackboard. Student performance was quickly analysed, with individual and team results presented back to the cohort in a ‘clarification’ session (that focussed on poorly answered questions with explanations of the most correct response and exploration of misconceptions). Teams returned to breakout rooms to complete focused application tasks (FAT) before debriefing as a cohort. In our approach, the FAT varied between teams – with each requiring students to work through a case scenario or interpret complex data. Student performance is enhanced following peer-teaching and learning in our TBL.
Online TBL has been well-received, with internal course evaluations improved since introduction – in our student’s voice,
“I really enjoyed the pre-work… it [was] really helpful in consolidating knowledge. I also really enjoyed the i[ndividual]RAT and t[eam]RAT quizzes and discussing the trickier questions afterwards in class. It encouraged us to keep on top of the large workload.” (SEC-21S1)
The additional results and feedback generated through the pre-work, RAT and FAT have provided new ways to see how performance is developing from week to week. Courses interested in adopting a flipped online format may benefit from using this approach.
Theme
engagement
Presenter Bio
Associate Professor Dane King
Dane has a background in Bioinformatics, Medicine and Higher Education and has played key roles in introducing blended approaches, team-based learning, and teaching with technology at The University of Sydney, Macquarie University and UNDA. He coordinates Human Body 1 in the Graduate Diploma and is Head of Assessment for Sydney Medicine.
Dr Stephen Bested
Stephen recently joined the University in 2019 with research expertise in Motor control and Skill Acquisition, specialising in Robotic Guidance. As the Program Administrator of the Graduate Diploma of Health and Medical Sciences, Stephen supports administration and coordination of the program. With his background in Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Stephen teaches and coordinates into the courses Human Body 1 and 2.
Associate Professor Sharon Herkes
Sharon leads the Graduate Diploma of Health and Medical Sciences program for the School of Medicine. Previously she worked as theme leader in entrepreneurial education, a senior reviewer of teaching practices and an academic in physiology at the University of Sydney where she received the Vice-Chancellor’s award for Outstanding Teaching. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy UK.
Presentation Type
Presentation
Location
Zoom session commences 10am AWST/12 noon AEST
Start Date
29-9-2021 11:23 AM
Our Experience Adapting Team Based Learning (TBL) for Online Teaching: Our New Normal
Zoom session commences 10am AWST/12 noon AEST
In response to COVID-19, we rapidly transitioned our three-hour sessions (comprising lecture, tutorial, and practical components) for ‘Human Body 1’ to an interactive online format from 20S2. We decided to adapt a TBL approach as it lends itself to Zoom delivery in combination with other platforms, is associated with high levels of active student participation, and incorporates many assessment touchpoints – creating new opportunities for feedback and longitudinal performance monitoring1.
Our approach involved flipping and chunking lecture content, supplemented by knowledge-check activities with automated feedback as pre-work. Weekly Zoom sessions started with an individual readiness assurance test (RAT) comprising 10 multiple-choice-questions; immediately followed by the same RAT, completed by student teams in separate breakout rooms – all via Blackboard. Student performance was quickly analysed, with individual and team results presented back to the cohort in a ‘clarification’ session (that focussed on poorly answered questions with explanations of the most correct response and exploration of misconceptions). Teams returned to breakout rooms to complete focused application tasks (FAT) before debriefing as a cohort. In our approach, the FAT varied between teams – with each requiring students to work through a case scenario or interpret complex data. Student performance is enhanced following peer-teaching and learning in our TBL.
Online TBL has been well-received, with internal course evaluations improved since introduction – in our student’s voice,
“I really enjoyed the pre-work… it [was] really helpful in consolidating knowledge. I also really enjoyed the i[ndividual]RAT and t[eam]RAT quizzes and discussing the trickier questions afterwards in class. It encouraged us to keep on top of the large workload.” (SEC-21S1)
The additional results and feedback generated through the pre-work, RAT and FAT have provided new ways to see how performance is developing from week to week. Courses interested in adopting a flipped online format may benefit from using this approach.