Member News

Judith Ainsworth and William Ofstad Win TBLC 2023 Best Paper Awards

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During the recent 2023 business meeting at the annual meeting, we recognized two papers that stood out among the rest. In an effort to recognize excellence and innovation in advancing Team-Based Learning through research and scholarly publications, two papers were awarded top honors in the following categories:

Research Category
Dr. Judith Ainsworth
Team-Based Learning in professional writing courses for accounting graduates: positive impacts on student engagement, accountability and satisfaction

Judith Ainsworth. Accounting Education, 30:3, 234-257 (2021).

Scholarship Category
Dr. William Ofstad
Finding balance: Offering a systematic method to explore the influence of technology on team-based learning

William Ofstad and Yuwei Wang, Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning. 13;11:1393-1397 (2021).

Winning articles were published in a peer-reviewed journal in the last two calendar years (2021 to 2023), are consistent with the entire TBL process, and align with the mission of the TBLC.

#TBLC23 Featured Workshop

The TBLC Module Resource Portal: Explore its Hidden Treasures

With the 2023 TBLC Meeting just around the corner, we would like to bring attention to one of our featured workshops: The TBLC Module Resource Portal: Explore its Hidden Treasures. This session will be presented by Caroline Wilson. We hope you enjoy this session!

Title: The TBLC Module Resource Portal: Explore its Hidden Treasures
Presented by: Caroline Wilson – Chapman University
Date & Time: Monday, March 13, 2023, 1:15 PM – 3:00 PM Eastern

Click on the video above for an exclusive feature of this session!

TBLC members from multiple academic disciplines have published complete learning lessons, known as modules, in the online resource portal (TBLC members can access them by clicking the hyperlink: https://teambasedlearning.site-ym.com/page/resouce_portal). Currently, over 100 modules from 12 academic categories are available to registered members for download. TBL practitioners often access portal materials as they design their novel content. Still, they may be missing out on additional resources if they only explore their own area of expertise. A deep dive into the resource bank may allow TBLers to discover innovative, accessible approaches for learners of all disciplines and workplaces. In this workshop, we will explore the resource bank and then adapt part of your own module (learning objectives, prework, RATs or Application exercises) based on TBL best practices. The process for submission and publication of your completed module will also be reviewed so you may share your own “hidden treasures” with all collaborative members.

We hope you enjoy this and our other exciting workshops.

Last Chance to Register for the January Fundamentals Series

Don’t miss your opportunity to complete all five courses required for the Knowledge of the Fundamentals of Team-Based Learning certification, offered by the Team-Based Learning Collaborative (TBLC), in collaboration with InteDashboard. The TBL Fundamentals Series begins Thursday, January 12, 2023, at 6:00 PM Eastern and continues through January 26. 

What are the workshops included in the series?

  • Fundamental Principles and Practices of TBL presented Thursday, January 12
  • Evaluating MCQs for Readiness Assurance Tests and Application Activities presented Tuesday, January 17
  • Team Dynamics and Peer Evaluation presented Thursday, January 19
  • Improving Facilitation Skills for a TBL Classroom presented Tuesday, January 24
  • Creating an Effective TBL Module presented Thursday, January 26

Key Takeaways from the Fundamentals Series

  • Learn about the essentials of the TBL process
  • Learn how to convert non-TBL course material into a TBL format
  • Identify common errors and barriers during TBL module development and learn how to overcome them
  • Improve your TBL facilitation skills by adopting the key characteristics of effective facilitators
  • Develop insights into online TBL
  • How to improve student teamwork for learning effectiveness and engagement
  • Collaborate with a diverse group of global educators

Learning objectives for each of the workshops can be found at the TBL Fundamental Series site here.

The five online courses offer the same quality content as the face-to-face workshop series, with the added bonus of learning from educators from around the globe. Taught in TBL style, these courses will show attendees effective TBL delivery in the online environment while they build upon their own professional development. 

For more information, and to register, click here

Learn to Craft Better MCQs for TBL at #TBLC23

The 2023 Annual TBLC Meeting will be held in sunny Orlando, Florida from March 11-14, 2023. New for the in-person meetings is the opportunity to take all five courses required for the Knowledge of the Fundamentals of TBL certificate program! Beginning on Saturday morning, attendees will have the opportunity to complete the program from start to finish and leave the meeting certified in facilitating TBL!  The second workshop in the series is Evaluating Multiple Choice Questions for Readiness Assurance Tests and Application Activities.

Evaluating Multiple Choice Questions for Readiness Assurance Tests and Application Activities
Facilitators: Suzan Kamel-ElSayed – OUWB School of Medicine
William Ofstad – West Coast University

Roberson & Franchini (2014) proposed five possible uses of MCQs in TBL. First, MCQs may be useful as ‘naive’ tasks presented before the RAT to stimulate interest/ engagement. Second, MCQs may be useful as knowledge/ comprehension RAT questions (@ 2/3 of a typical RAT). Third, MCQs may be useful as entry-level application RAT questions (@ 1/3 of a typical RAT). Fourth, MCQs may be useful as low-level informed Application Activities. Fifth, MCQs may be useful as high-level informed Application Activities. Because they have many important uses TBL, instructors must be able to evaluate MCQs for quality, for cognitive level, and for place-of-best-fit in TBL. That is, instructors must know the ‘rules’ for writing high quality/ varying cognitive level MCQs and decide whether available MCQs are of high, medium, or low quality. In addition, they must understand Bloom’s Taxonomy and determine the cognitive level of available MCQs. Specifically, instructors must be able to determine whether MCQs assess the knowledge/ comprehension, application/ analysis, or synthesis/ evaluation levels. Finally, instructors must be knowledgeable about the purpose/ makeup of RATs and Application Activities and use that knowledge to decide the place-of-best-fit is for available MCQs.

Learning objectives for Evaluating Multiple Choice Questions include:

  • Compare and contrast MCQs for RATs, exams and applications
  • Link MCQs to session learning outcomes
  • Identify common errors and barriers to writing effective MCQ questions

Meet The Facilitators

Suzan Kamel-ElSayed
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Associate Professor in the Department of the Foundational Medical Studies
Program Committee Chair for the TBLC 2023 Annual Meeting

William Ofstad
West Coast University
Chair, Department of Pharmacy Practice
President-Elect of TBLC

For the full list of workshops and more details on the 2023 TBLC Meeting, please click here. We’ll see you in Orlando!

Tomorrow is the TBLC Mid-Year Virtual Forum!

Don’t miss your chance to join the Team-Based Learning Collaborative (TBLC) for our Mid-Year Virtual Forum! Do you want to improve how you evaluate your students? Have you ever thought about methods outside of the traditional grading systems? Do you want to hear about the latest research and innovation in student assessment? Join us tomorrow for a one-day virtual event where you can connect with colleagues from around the world as we reflect on evaluation in Team-Based Learning. Register today!

Virtual Forum Schedule

Plenary Address: Do We Deserve a D or an F for our Grading Practices?
Presented by Jeff Cain
October 27, 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM ET

Educators have typically used grades as a measure of learning, to provide feedback, and to motivate students to learn. This session will describe how traditional grading practices are problematic and why it is time to examine alternatives. Attendees will participate in a TBL exercise designed to stimulate thinking about grading reform.

Click Here for a Special Interview with Jeff Cain!

Workshop: Alternative Grading in the TBL Classroom
Presented by Drew Lewis
October 27, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM ET

With the increasing popularity of alternative grading structures across disciplines, many TBL practitioners have wondered how best to implement them in their TBL classes. In this workshop, we will give a brief overview of some of the most common alternative grading structures, such as Standards-Based Grading, Specifications Grading, and Ungrading, and discuss considerations for deciding which one is most appropriate for a particular instructional context. 

Expert Panel: Effective Peer Evaluation
Moderated by TBLC President Julie Estis
October 27, 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM ET

In this fast-paced session, you’ll hear rapid-fire talks from experienced TBL researchers and practitioners on how they approach peer evaluation and what we can learn from research on peer evaluation. They will share key takeaways and resources for further exploration.

Workshop: Four Steps Closer to Equitable Grading
Presented by Laurie Schroder
October 27, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM ET

This presentation will introduce, in brief, current research on threats to equitable grading, which often parallel identified deficiencies in traditional grading systems. Accepting that there is resistance to change to grading processes, and that we often function within institutions that require traditional grading, we will discuss four steps that we can take to make our grading more equitable within traditional systems, even as we strive for change.

Don’t forget, we will be making a special announcement during the Virtual Forum regarding the TBLC 2023 Annual Meeting. 

We will see you tomorrow!

Laurie Schroder to Present “Four Steps Closer to Equitable Grading”

The Team-Based Learning Collaborative (TBLC) invites all educators to attend our Mid-Year Virtual Forum. The theme for our virtual forum is Evaluation in Team-Based Learning. It’s time to think again! We will conclude our program this year with Laurie Schroder from East Tennessee State University. 

Laurie Schroder, PT

Four Steps Closer to Equitable Grading

When: October 28, 2022 from 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM EST
Session Description: This presentation will introduce, in brief, current research on threats to equitable grading, which often parallel identified deficiencies in traditional grading systems. Accepting that there is resistance to change to grading processes, and that we often function within institutions that require traditional grading, we will discuss four steps that we can take to make our grading more equitable within traditional systems, even as we strive for change.

To learn more about our sessions about better grading, effective peer evaluation, and equitable grading, visit www.TBLCvirtualforum.org

The 2022 Mid-Year Virtual Forum is just a few weeks away! Stay tuned for a special offer we will make available to all attendees of the Virtual Forum. Keep an eye on your email for details!

Drew Lewis to Present “Alternative Grading in the TBL Classroom”

The Team-Based Learning Collaborative (TBLC) invites all educators to attend our Mid-Year Virtual Forum. The theme for our virtual forum is Evaluation in Team-Based Learning. It’s time to think again! We will continue our program this year with Drew Lewis from the University of South Alabama. 

Drew Lewis, PhD

When: October 28, 2022 from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM EST
Session Description: With the increasing popularity of alternative grading structures across disciplines, many TBL practitioners have wondered how best to implement them in their TBL classes. In this workshop, we will give a brief overview of some of the most common alternative grading structures, such as Standards-Based Grading, Specifications Grading, and Ungrading, and discuss considerations for deciding which one is most appropriate for a particular instructional context. We will also spend time on specific and concrete implementation details with each of these, particularly as they relate to the structure of a TBL course.

To learn more about our sessions about better grading, effective peer evaluation, and equitable grading, visit www.TBLCvirtualforum.org

The 2022 Mid-Year Virtual Forum is just a few weeks away! Stay tuned for a special offer we will make available to all attendees of the Virtual Forum. Keep an eye on your email for details!

Jeff Cain to Present “Do We Deserve a D or an F for our Grading Practices?”

The Team-Based Learning Collaborative (TBLC) invites all educators to attend our Mid-Year Virtual Forum. The theme for our virtual forum is Evaluation in Team-Based Learning. It’s time to think again! We will open our program this year with our plenary speaker, Jeff Cain from the Kentucky College of Pharmacy. 

Click the image above to watch Dr. Lauren Vicker’s recent interview with Jeff Cain. During the interview, Cain and Vicker discuss the use of social media in the classroom, the effectiveness of peer evaluation, and the effects they see that the COVID-19 Pandemic has had on the student community in their classrooms. Vicker then asks Cain what attendees can expect from his plenary address and he shares his perspective on the flaws of the traditional grading systems. “I’ve struggled with how to do grades and grading in a way that accurately measures learning, that is motivating, and is fair and equitable,” says Cain. Research is showing that there is a better way to do it – for both students and educators. This interview is a preview of what is to come in Cain’s plenary address. 

Do We Deserve a D or an F
For Our Grading Practices?

When: October 28, 2022 from 10:00 – 11:15 AM EST
Session Description: Educators have typically used grades as a measure of learning, to provide feedback, and to motivate students to learn. This session will describe how traditional grading practices are problematic for each of those and why it is time to examine alternate approaches. Attendees will participate in a team-based learning exercise designed to stimulate thinking about grading reform.

To learn more about our sessions about better grading, effective peer evaluation, and equitable grading, visit www.TBLCvirtualforum.org

We hope to see you in October!

Call for Workshop Abstracts for the #TBLC23 Annual Meeting

The Team-Based Learning Collaborative extends a warm invitation to join them for their 22nd annual meeting, to be held from Saturday, March 11 to Tuesday, March 14, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. We are planning an exciting in-person conference filled with engaging sessions and plenty of networking opportunities. Abstracts are currently welcomed for workshop abstracts and we encourage you to submit!

Workshops
Conference participants are invited to submit abstracts for live, synchronous workshops in one of two categories: innovations/applications or scholarship/research. Although we are still in the midst of conference planning, we request that you be available between 8AM and 3PM ET during the conference to facilitate a live session. All workshops should be in the TBL format and at a minimum include team applications. An iRAT and tRAT are optional but recommended.

Proposals for workshops must be submitted by September 1, 2022.

If you have any questions or problems with your abstract submission, please send them to support@tblcadmin.org.

Thank you,
Suzan Kamel-ElSayed
2023 Program Committee Chair

TBLC 2022 Steering Committee
Election Results

It is our pleasure to announce to you that we have two newly elected members of our Steering Committee. Thanks to all who participated in our recent election process. These new Steering Committee members will initiate their terms immediately.

Treasurer
Hugh Clements-Jewery
University of Illinois at Chicago
2022-2024

Member-at-Large: Workforce Development and Training
Andrea Bowersox
University of Pittsburgh
2022-2025

Please join us in congratulating our new Steering Committee members as they join our continuing efforts to make TBLC a leader in promoting the understanding and evolution of TBL across the educational community. We’d also like to extend a sincere thank you to Sarah Lerchenfeldt (Member-at-Large: Health Sciences), who will be leaving office for her service to TBLC.