[Libs-Or] Workshop: Teaching on the Edge of Chaos

[Mellinger, Margaret]

You are invited to Oregon State University Libraries for a dynamic
workshop presented by Bryan Miyagishima and Bob Hautala
Date: Friday July 27th 2008 
Time: 9am - 12 noon 
Location: Oregon State University, Valley Library, Willamette Industries
Room (3rd Floor) 
Cost: Free
For more information, contact Kate Yonezawa, Coordinator of
Undergraduate Learning Services, Oregon State University Libraries:
Kate.Yonezawa at oregonstate.edu or (541) 737-7273.
Description:
Teaching on the edge of chaos ...
How can we let go more and more within our classes, letting students
direct more of their own learning while still maintaining control over
behavior and learning outcomes? The motor-learning model of "dynamic
systems" - providing choices and complexity in learner tasks,
reinforcing performance standards, and de-emphasizing demonstration and
instruction - is one approach by which instructors can safely bring
controlled chaos into their sessions. The dynamic systems model views
the learner as one part of other interacting systems, including the
learning environment and tasks. In this model, instructors are able to
manipulate the learning environment and/or the tasks to effect changes
in student performance. For example, in the PE classroom, providing the
student a lighter ball will produce a different movement pattern; in the
academic environment, placing limitations on the types of research
sources allowed will likewise produce different patterns of behavior.
Choice is mandatory; students are required to explore various means to
accomplish a task. But, the instructor remains safely in charge of both
the choices and the performance objectives and standards. Group
instruction and demonstration is not initially provided; instead, the
instructor spends a greater amount of time working with individuals as
they accomplish their task.
How do we bring chaos safely into our classes? How do we redirect chaos
into student learning? In this workshop, participants will explore the
principles behind dynamic systems, and the benefits and disadvantages of
this approach vs. more traditional instructional models. They will use
these principles to design library instruction for both single sessions
and course-long collaborations. And, participants will come away with
strategies for how to safely inject more "chaos" into their own
instruction, within the constraints of their experience and teaching
styles.
Presenter bios:
Bryan Miyagishima, MLS, M.Ed, is the Instruction and Outreach Librarian
at Western Oregon University. Bob Hautala, PhD, is Assistant Professor
of Health and Physical Education at Western Oregon University. They have
been collaborating together for the past two years, using the dynamic
systems model to provide information literacy instruction to sections of
the PE 131 course at Western Oregon University, a mandatory course on
health and fitness concepts for all WOU students, and providing a
workshop on dynamic systems teaching concepts at the 2007 WILU Library
Instruction Conference in Toronto. 

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