Abstract:

As in all universities we are constantly searching for areas to improve student learning and student engagement. At Swansea University we have looked at different structures of delivery with a focus on engaging students and enhancing student learning. The study will compare the compressed style of learning compared to two other modes of delivery The first being the more traditional delivery where the students have a 2 hour lecture followed by a timetabled seminar. This seminar is within the teaching week. The compressed mode of delivery is one where the seminar is delivered directly after the lecture. The third mode of delivery we have called integrated learning where the students have a three hour lecture where there is no distinction between the lecture and seminar. In the integrated style of lecture question practice is used throughout the lecture and not reserved for the seminar.

Specifically, the study will look at the impact on student engagement and learning over these three modes of delivery, compressed, traditional and integrated style of teaching.

The study will look to answer the following research questions:
- Do students prefer the traditional style of delivery a 2 hour lecture on one day and a seminar on another day?
- Do students prefer a more compressed style of learning where the seminar follows directly after the lecture?
- Do students prefer integrated learning where the students have a 3 hour block of teaching with no differentiation between the lecture and seminar?

Students will be asked to complete a questionnaire comprising of numerical scored questions and open questions allowing the students to provide more detailed observations.

The questionnaire will cover the students learning experience during each style of teaching, their engagement, and their performance. The lecturers involved in the different types of teaching will be interviewed to gain their feedback on the outcome of the modes of delivery and any areas for improvement. A literature review was also performed to gain greater understanding of the theories supporting compressed learning, integrated learning and the more traditional style of delivery.

Keywords:

Traditional, compressed, integrated.