Reduce stakes, align question difficulty with exams, and add game-like feedback when implementing TBL to lower student stress¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

When extending TBL to a new program, the authors made three changes: reduced the TBL grade contribution from 29% to 2%, cognitively aligned TBL questions with unit exams, and used scratch-off IF-AT cards for instantaneous, less stressful feedback. They conclude "the qualitative experience of students may be an important consideration that should be carefully evaluated during implementation of a new teaching technique."

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Peer review of questions by faculty to verify content level and a single best answer
• Heterogeneous team assignment balancing performance levels

Constraints¶

• The comparison involved two different student populations, a confound the authors state could skew results
• The classic TBL format's advocates argue divergence may diminish effectiveness

Target Learners¶

• first-year professional (medical and dental) students

Target Learning Goals¶

• physiology concept mastery
• reduced assessment-related stress
• team collaboration skills

Related Strategies¶

• Frequent, Low-Stakes Quizzes

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Cynthia J. Miller, Jeff C. Falcone & Michael J. Metz. (2015). A Comparison of Team-Based Learning Formats: Can We Minimize Stress While Maximizing Results? World Journal of Education, 5(4). http://dx.doi.org/10.5430/wje.v5n4p1