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| Rachel Stafford, PharmD, associate professor of pharmacy practice in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy, was recently awarded a $2,485 Educational Innovation Grant from the UAMS Office of Academic Affairs to support faculty active learning techniques.
Classroom instruction often involves assigned reading and lectures that students listen to passively. Active learning uses several different strategies, such as group activities, role plays, and technology, to keep students engaged. There are also small changes that can help, such as changing the way instructors lead group activities to make them more effective.
“I've heard someone say, 'If you're not thinking, you're not learning,'” Stafford says. “We want students to be true participants in their learning, not just listen to content, but think about it, synthesize it and evaluate it. This doesn't necessarily require highly structured pedagogies, but many instructors are afraid of it.”
Stafford’s project, “Assessing the Impact of Faculty Development on Active Learning Implementation,” focuses on helping faculty absorb active learning strategies and use them more effectively in the classroom.
“Although there is a mountain of research showing that active learning improves learning outcomes, the problem is that few faculty have received formal training in using active learning strategies, and as a result, they may not feel confident designing and delivering courses using these techniques,” Stafford says. “This lack of training can make it difficult for faculty to run their courses effectively, leading to reduced student engagement and backlash against these new techniques.”
Stafford said she hopes to apply for a grant that would give faculty the opportunity to receive “enhanced” training on promoting active learning in the classroom. The School of Pharmacy is undergoing a major curriculum overhaul starting in the fall 2025 semester. Part of the overhaul will include utilizing modern, evidence-based instruction like active learning.
Stafford's grant will enable pharmacy faculty to participate in an Association of University Educators Promoting Active Learning (ACUE) course. The six-week course focuses on active learning-oriented content, including how to develop a lecture, take notes and facilitate effective class discussions.
The UAMS Center for Education and Student Success, part of the Department of Academic Affairs, awards and administers a limited number of Education Innovation Grants each year. The grants encourage innovations that improve teaching and learning outcomes at UAMS. Stafford's proposal was one of only three projects selected for funding this year.