Getting your learners to be able to analyse is a core learning outcome for any kind of higher education.
Your learners need to recognise the difference between describing and analysing.
During your course design you can create a range of activities to develop learners' analytical skills, depending on what you want them to achieve. You should also develop learners' understanding of how to analyse chat texts and case studies.
Decide what kind of analysis is needed
Before you create activities, think about whether:
- the analysis will be written or spoken (audio or video)
- it’s a collaborative or individual task
- learners should focus on a particular aspect, for example of a painting, legal argument or calculation
Analysis could involve critique or close attention to the impact of various choices. Make sure learners know what you’re looking for. Provide students with examples of the kind of analytical writing or speaking that you expect.
Develop understanding of how to analyse chat text
Chat is a live online informal typed conversation.
For your CPD and short courses, you could host chat 'surgeries' so learners can share their experiences. If they can’t attend the live chat session or the webinar via Blackboard Collaborate, they can read the conversation later, if it can be made available.
You could also then design an activity based on a course chat text or links to online chat. Learners can use that chat or links to analyse as an activity, for example http://www.wireclub.com/topics/books,textbook.
Learners can use this task to:
- critique content
- provide extra material
- ask additional questions, including asking for more explanation from their peers
- summarise central points
- identify stumbling blocks
- share their own experiences and cases for other learners to comment on
Develop understanding of how to analyse case studies
Case studies are a process or record of research, and can include:
- work with groups of people – this can include clients, students or patients
- academic work, for example historical, archive, community or lab research
Creating activities based on case studies is ideal for developing analytical skills:
- motivating learners because they’re authentic – they bring a subject to life and underline the relevance of learning
- giving learners the chance to apply new knowledge and deepen understanding
- allowing learners to identify problems themselves, and teachers to prompt debate and possible solutions
Design a case study task using the following process:
1. Select a case from the archive or literature, invite learners to select a case, or upload your own case. Think about ethics – all cases must be anonymised and relevant permissions or informed consent arranged.
2. Design a learning activity based on the cases. Problem-solving is a good option, considering alternative approaches to projects, research, or case management.
3. Create groups yourself and make them diverse if you're planning collaborative work. Cases are a good basis for discussion, so take advantage of this opportunity for interactive learning.