Active Learning Blog

Anatomy & Physiology Class at Trocaire College

Trocaire College located near Buffalo, NY has a strong mission to serve students who might not otherwise have a shot at succeeding in higher education. Ninety seven percent of the college’s 1,400 students receive some form of financial aid.  Many are students who had started their education elsewhere, but hadn’t been able to complete—whether because of life circumstances or academic difficulties. Reducing attrition and improving retention is a major academic challenge for Trocaire faculty and staff.  But this isn’t unique to Trocaire. Last year, a study found that only 33.7% of students returning to complete their degree actually graduated, compared to 54.1% of first-time students.  

Unitec Institute of Technology, located in Auckland, New Zealand is one of the largest polytechnic institutions in the country with more than 18,000 students. While Unitec offers undergraduate degree programs, its main focus continues to be on vocational education and training (VET).

A blended learning environment takes the best parts of technology-based instruction, face-to-face instruction, and hands-on learning experience and combines them into one classroom. This effective way to teach brings many positive outcomes for instructors and students, boosting learning outcomes while creating a positive learning environment. MindShift recommends that instructors use the acronym TRICK when implementing this model into their classrooms.