IMPROVING STUDENT OUTCOMES IN INTRODUCTORY GEOSCIENCE COURSES WITH LECTURE TUTORIALS (Invited Presentation)

Lecture Tutorials are an active-learning strategy that instructors can use to increase student outcomes. They are 10-15 minute, concept-focused worksheets that students complete in pairs or small groups during class. Each Lecture Tutorial addresses student learning by guiding students through difficult topics by building on prior knowledge and confronting misconceptions. They help students think about their learning by asking them to defend their answers. Instructors often implement a Lecture Tutorial after giving an introductory lecture, allowing students to reflect on what they understand from lecture and apply concepts learned to solve problems. Generally two or three Lecture Tutorials are completed each week, and they can be used alone or with other active learning strategies. Tips for smooth implementation are similar to those for most active learning exercises, including beginning on the first day, roaming between groups to answer questions, and reviewing the main concept as a class before moving on.

We assessed the effectiveness of Lecture Tutorials by comparing pre-post multiple-choice questions and found that students improved from 58% correct after an introductory lecture to 76% correct after completing the Lecture Tutorials. We compared the Lecture Tutorials to a control situation where we asked the same pre-post questions, but replaced the time spent on the Lecture Tutorial with an extended lecture on the same topic. These students’ scores improved by only 5%. We also asked students their attitudes towards Lecture Tutorials on end-of-semester evaluations, and nearly all students agreed that the Lecture Tutorials helped them with their understanding of the topics. Analysis of open response questions and interviews resulted in similar positive responses. Overall, our research indicates that Lecture Tutorials are an effective and easily-implemented interactive teaching strategy that students enjoy.