Managing teaching and learning environments to facilitate curriculum change

Managing teaching and learning environments to facilitate curriculum change

Teaching staff in large classes are faced with students from different social/cultural backgrounds, and varying levels of education who bring with them different needs and academic potential. The trick is to create a suitable learning environment. This session will illustrate how a multi level approach has been used to create and maintain a networked community of learners who support one another through peer learning/mentoring in a large undergraduate accounting class. Traditional methods were adapted, supported by the use of technology and virtual teaming to provide more effective communication and greater learning support. The learning experience is enhanced using peer mentors who facilitate and support interactive case studies and create a student-centered social learning environment facilitated by an online website 'Peer Place'. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection are being employed to assess responses of students, mentors and staff to the new learning environment. Results suggest that peer mentors help to develop in younger students a strong sense of belonging to the learning community, a greater commitment to their studies which is positively reflected in student results.

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