TEACHSOC: Re: Age homogeneous or heterogeneous classes....

[Kathleen McKinney]

Ok. I will take the easy way out on this one! I believe (and would bet research shows) pros and cons to both an age/year heterogeneous classroom for freshman and age age/class level segregated ones. Likely this would vary by your learning objectives, student characteristics, etc. Michael notes some pros of heterogeneous but cohort bonding and similarity of experiences might be positives for age segregated ones.
k

At 03:09 PM 5/19/2006, Michael Klausner wrote:

Greetings:
 
Another topic for discussion. I just found out that my institution now “reserves” sections of courses for “freshmen.” I voiced my disagreement indicating that age heterogeneous classes are beneficial to students rather than year or age segregated ones. New students can learn from older ones. Older ones can serve as “role models” for freshmen. Also, older ones, having more “life experiences” can relate those to course content thus helping freshmen to see the “real world” relevance of sociology.
 
What do you think?
 
Best Wishes,
Michael Klausner

Kathleen McKinney
Cross Endowed Chair in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Professor, Sociology
Carnegie Scholar
Box 6370
Illinois State University
Normal, Il 61790-6370
off 309-438-7706
fax 309-438-8788
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.ilstu.edu/~kmckinne/


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