Throughout history, chalkboards (in some form) were the primary tools of instruction.
At a recent Bagels and Banter discussion, Economics Professor Simon Power made the case that there’s a reason why the chalkboard has survived.
“Chalk and talk is entirely interactive because you have to be engaged in order to transfer the knowledge from your mind on to the chalkboard,” said Professor Power. “That engagement of the professor is the #1 ingredient in effective teaching.”
Discussions of teaching methods are a new addition to Bagels and Banter, a monthly discussion group for faculty members and graduate students in FPA. Professors also offer presentations about ongoing research.
Professor Power is currently on sabbatical, conducting a meta-analysis of research evidence on the effectiveness of teaching methods. Through that, he is comparing direct instruction to the use of technology and inquiry-based learning. He’s found the evidence thus far is favourable towards the use of a chalkboard.
To learn more about the line-up for Bagels and Banter in 2016, click here.
Monday, December 14, 2015 in Department of Economics, News
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