FEASS Workshop on Group-Based Teaching Methods
On September 26 and 27, the Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences (FEASS) held a workshop and a seminar on group-based teaching methods. The seminar and workshop were offered by Dr. Savita Kumra from Brunel Business School (United Kingdom).
The workshop on September 26 was attended by HIST 200 instructors at FEASS. Since, beginning in 2011, the HIST 200 course has been given using group-based teaching methods, Dr. Kumra's workshop was designed to help course instructors perfect their group-based teaching skills.
The seminar on September 27 was offered to all Bilkent faculty members. Unlike the workshop, the seminar focused specifically on the pedagogy of group-based teaching. Dr. Kumra looked at some of the key drivers of the increasing use and popularity of group-based teaching methods. Her talk included mention of some of the main stakeholders to be considered in designing pedagogical strategies: institutions of higher education; instructors; students; and employers. Dr. Kumra also discussed the rationale for introducing group-work into courses, focusing on its advantages but noting some of the challenges as well. The final segment of the session addressed strategies instructors can employ to ensure they get the most benefit from group work in order to enhance students' learning experiences.