Understanding and Overcoming “Bottlenecks” in Student Learning

Abstract

Pedagogically, the term “bottleneck” refers to a moment when students mayface barriers to understanding content in the process of learning. As instructorsidentify “bottlenecks” within their courses, they are faced with the challenge of howto best assist students in overcoming them. Further, most instructors want to knowwhat selected teaching strategies to implement in the classroom to increase studentlearning. The seven-step process of Decoding the Disciplines (Middendorf & Pace,2004) provides a platform for helping students learn how to think instead of what tothink to successfully progress through identified bottlenecks. The model also allowsfor instructors to collect evidence-based results of student learning that contribute tothe scholarship of teaching and learning, while infusing deeper meaning and learninginto the classroom. The model is particularly useful for instructors who face challengesin incorporating alternative pedagogical strategies.

Bibliographic data

Sturts, J. R., & Mowatt, R. A. (2012). Understanding and Overcoming "Bottlenecks" in Student Learning. SCHOLE: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, 27(1), 39-45.

External source

https://www.nrpa.org/globalassets/journals/schole/2012/schole-volume-27-number-1-pp-39-45.pdf