Just-in-Time Teaching (JiTT) is a pedagogical approach that requires
students to answer questions related to an upcoming class a few hours
beforehand, using an online course management system. While the phrase
"just in time" may evoke shades of slap-dash work and cut corners, JiTT
pedagogy is just the opposite. It helps students to view learning as a
process that takes time, introspection, and persistence.
Students who experience JiTT come to class better prepared, and report
that it helps to focus and organize their out-of-class studying. Their
responses to JiTT questions make gaps in their learning visible to the
teacher prior to class, enabling him or her to address learning gaps
while the material is still fresh in students' minds - hence the label
"just in time."
JiTT questions differ from traditional homework problems in being
designed not only to build cognitive skills, but also to help students
confront misconceptions, make connections to previous knowledge, and
develop metacognitive thinking practices. Students consequently spend
more time on course concepts and ideas, but also read their textbooks in
ways that result in more effective and deeper learning. Starting the
class with students' work also dramatically changes the
classroom-learning environment, creating greater student engagement.
This book demonstrates that JiTT has broad appeal across the academy.
Part I provides a broad overview of JiTT, introducing the pedagogy and
exploring various dimensions of its use without regard to discipline.
Part II of the book demonstrates JiTT's remarkable cross-disciplinary
impact with examples of applications in physics, biology, the
geosciences, economics, history, and the humanities.
Just-in-Time Teaching article from The Hispanic Outlook in Higher
Education
Reprinted with permission from Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education
Magazine. www.hispanicoutlook.com
