PRESENTATION
Is Intensive Block Teaching successful?
Author (s)
Tracey Williams Lecturer
School of Management
Abstract
How do we improve student learning?
One solution we came up with in Accountancy and Finance was to run a new innovative MSc using intensive block teaching.
The new MSc was developed to include five modules of intensive block teaching, three hours every day for four weeks. Our students only learn one subject each block and complete the exam or assessment immediately afterwards. The aims of the intensive teaching are to enhance student learning, engage students and meet their aspirations.
The presentation will look at the success of intensive block teaching on the new MSc and the impact on both students learning and engagement. The study will compare the student experience and performance to more conventional methods of teaching.
Session Outline
The presentation will outline the student and lecturer experience of intensive block teaching. Student engagement was measured by gaining feedback by means of a questionnaire and interviews with the students.
The presentation will assess how the course meets the student’s objectives. The students who come onto the course have one aim to become qualified accountants. The course is designed to follow the syllabus of a professional accountancy institute. The Institute has four exam sittings a year and the students can complete their professional exams upon completion of the Swansea University modules.
To measure student success, student performance has been compared to the undergraduate programme and other specialist MSc programmes. Also student pass rate in the professional exams can be used as one measure of success of the intensive block teaching.
The lecturers involved were also interviewed to gain their feedback on the new style of teaching and to highlight any areas for improvement.
Key Words
Intensive, Block, Engagement, Experience, Success
Key Messages
By the end of the session conference participants will understand the student and lecturer experience of intensive block teaching. Participants should be able to measure student engagement, learning and be able to evaluate the success of intensive block teaching compared to conventional methods of teaching.
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