Teaching History at University by Booth Alan

Author:Booth, Alan.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Taylor & Francis (CAM)

Encouraging observation and active listening

Observation and listening are integral parts of reflective learning, and involve attention to what is said and by whom, how it is said, when it is said, and the context of the communication. Whilst many of the strategies outlined above involve such skills, the following explicitly focus upon encouraging students to gain confidence and experience in these areas as part of deepening their understanding of subject and self.

Fishbowl or inner circle

Sometimes employed as a technique for breaking down large groups without everyone having to perform an activity, this is a productive listening exercise. Here a number of students form an inner circle to discuss a topic, with the rest sitting in an outer circle as non-participant observers. The latter are asked to listen carefully to the discussion, note key points and feed these back to the whole group. It often surprises students how different the accounts of what is said and what happened can be, and this can be used to lead into general discussion of the topic and the problems of evidence and interpretation. If students are also asked to observe the pattern of interaction, this can be used to introduce discussion of disciplinary modes of learning and the practicalities and importance of listening more generally, including ‘listening’ to historical evidence.

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