SXSWedu 2012 - Challenge Based Learning in Higher Education

Challenge Based Learning in Higher Education
Event	SXSWedu Proposal 3
Organizer	Emily Wray Full Sail University
Speakers	Emily Wray Annie Tuttle, Ph.D.
Description	Last spring we implemented Challenge Based Learning (CBL) in an Environmental Sociology course at The University of Tampa. CBL is an alternative type of service learning project where students work collaboratively to solve real-world issues in the local community. In this class, students were given a broad topic, such as sustainability or environmental justice, and were tasked with creating an ecological challenge for their group to solve using creativity, real-world skills, technology, collaboration with peers and members of the community. Since CBL is a student-driven group project, students must work collaboratively and be self-motivated. Therefore introducing CBL into higher education presents some unique challenges since college classrooms are often comprised of diverse students, who have disparate schedules, responsibilities, skills, and resources. We will be share some of the challenges we faced using Challenge Based Learning in the college classroom and the solutions we devised to improve this type of learning experience for students in higher education.
Questions Answered	Challenge Based Learning is a student-driven service-learning project and thus requires students to be self-motivated. How can instructors motivate students to be proactive and to not procrastinate? In a group project there always seems to be one person who does the bulk of the work and a few individuals who do significantly less. How can instructors encourage student accountability and ensure that the division of labor is equitable? Many instructors understand the value of service learning projects, but are unsure how to assess students who participate in them. How can instructors who use CBL assess student performance? Not all students have the same level of technical competency or access to technology. How can instructors implement CBL into classrooms that have a digital divide? Today students in college classrooms are not solely students, but juggle a host of other responsibilities. Therefore, how can instructors set up assignments that require collaboration outside the classroom? How can instructors overcome the logistics?
Level	Intermediate
Supporting Material	Environmental Sociology Challenge Community: http://drtuttle.ning.com/
Category	Higher Education
Tags	challenge based learning , Higher education , Social learning