Research Blog #12: Book Review #4

Rozycki, William. "Just-in-Time Teaching." Indiana University. Research and Creative Activity, Apr. 1999. Web. 05 Mar. 2012. <http://www.indiana.edu/~rcapub/v22n1/p08.html>.      

Gregor Novak, a physics teacher of what was previously Purdue University Indianapolis Campus, came to realize the need for change within the process of teaching students at the level of higher education.

Novak is a well respected physics professor who conducted lecture in an active learning environment.

JiTT: Just-in-Time-Teaching; a web based interactive study tool for students

Collaborative Recitation:  Interactivity is promoted by breaking students into groups of two to four, and these teams then solve problems on a whiteboard, sharing their ideas and communicating solutions. Instructors, graduate assistants, and student mentors circulate among the groups, giving input when needed.

“broke his course material into a series of fifteen-minute structured activities for small groups and developed examples and exercises that connected physics theory to common sense or familiar activities. The students learned by doing” (Rozycki, 1999).  
-Understanding the learning needs of his students, Novak demonstrates the successful outcome universities can have when configuring new teaching techniques around the strengths of the individual students.
 "Because students work in groups, they have to attempt explanations to their peers. They often learn that a particular method or idea is more complex than they realized. The exercise improves both critical thinking andcommunication skills." (Rozycki, 1999).
-The easiest person to convince is one's self.  Working together in groups creates a collaborative environment in which statements and ideas may be challenged.  It is up to the individual to then explain to his or her peers why their particular reasoning is correct.  The act of teaching then allows one to learn the material. 
 "The Web provided a level of connectedness to the class that otherwise would have been lacking."
-From the voice of a student, Jerry Travelstead discusses his view on Novak's teaching tactics.  A fist hand experiences proves to be successful for the student body, illustrating the effectiveness of active learning.


This process of learning has not only stopped in the classroom of professor Novak, but has been used in various universities around the country.  Andrew P. Martin, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado has also incorporated the use of “flipping” the classroom.  This act of teaching “enables students' misconceptions to be corrected well before they emerge on a midterm or final exam. The result, according to a growing body of research, is more learning” (Berrett, 2012).  The evidence provided favors those professors who enable the student body to effectively teach themselves.  Their ability to tune into the needs of the individual allows for a “hands on” learning environment engaging the students with each other.  This engagement allows individuals to acquire various view points on the same problem.