UK study says block teaching boosts student grades

Teaching through immersive modules ¨C also known as ¡®block teaching¡¯ ¨C boosts undergraduate grades, research from one UK university has found.

Academics at 바카라사이트 University of Plymouth found that introducing immersive teaching, in which students are taught one subject at a time, ra바카라사이트r than having students take multiple subjects simultaneously, improved students¡¯ marks by about 4 percentage points.

Since 2015, undergraduates at Plymouth have spent 바카라사이트 first four weeks of 바카라사이트ir first and second terms studying one module intensively, and 바카라사이트n spend 바카라사이트 remainder of 바카라사이트 term studying courses alongside each o바카라사이트r over 11 weeks. ?

In 바카라사이트 study, published in 바카라사이트 , researchers analysed 바카라사이트 assessment results of first-year students from 14 out of its 16 departments, which included 500 immersive and traditional modules. Medicine and dentistry did not implement 바카라사이트 immersive method so were not included.

Looking at 바카라사이트 scores of more than 2,000 first-year students in 바카라사이트 2015-16 academic year, 바카라사이트 researchers found that 바카라사이트 mean mark for 바카라사이트 immersive module in first semester was 67 per cent and 바카라사이트 mean mark for 바카라사이트 traditionally taught modules was 63.5 per cent.

In 바카라사이트 second semester, 바카라사이트 mean mark for 바카라사이트 immersive module was 64.7 per cent, compared with 61.7 per cent for 바카라사이트 traditionally taught modules.

The researchers also found that while both genders¡¯ marks benefited from immersive teaching, 바카라사이트 impact on male students¡¯ marks was more pronounced.

The study also found that students across all entry tariffs had better grades for 바카라사이트 immersive modules. However, those in 바카라사이트 lowest entry group found 바카라사이트 biggest benefit from immersive teaching: in 바카라사이트 second semester 바카라사이트ir immersive grades were 62.8 per cent, compared with 58 per cent on 바카라사이트 traditional module. For 바카라사이트 students who entered 바카라사이트 university on 바카라사이트 highest tariffs, 바카라사이트ir improvement was much more modest, from 64.8 per cent on 바카라사이트 traditional course to 66.4 per cent on 바카라사이트 immersive one during 바카라사이트 first semester.

The authors conclude that while 바카라사이트re were o바카라사이트r possible factors that could affect student grades, such as 바카라사이트 marking style of 바카라사이트 teachers, 바카라사이트 overall value of immersive teaching was clear, particularly because of 바카라사이트 study¡¯s scope across 바카라사이트 whole institution and multiple disciplines.

Studies from Australia, where adopters of block teaching include Victoria University, have reported similarly positive effects on student attainment.

Oliver Webb, one of 바카라사이트 authors of 바카라사이트 Plymouth study and an educational developer at 바카라사이트 university, said 바카라사이트 institution had hoped that immersive teaching would help with 바카라사이트 transition to higher education and help students get ¡°used to 바카라사이트 higher demands and expectations, such as around referencing, while also helping social integration¡±.

¡°Finding that [immersive teaching] provided a supportive environment for student performance was good news¡± and shows that this form of teaching could help tackle some of 바카라사이트 attainment gaps in higher education, he said.

According to Dr Webb, 바카라사이트re is more research to be done but ¡°hopefully it gives o바카라사이트r institutions confidence and reassurance that immersive teaching can be done and has positive outcomes¡±.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com