4S (Significant, Same, Specific, Simultaneous) Application Exercise –Alternatives to Multiple Choice

Abstract

The 4S (significant, same, specific simultaneous) model helps to ensure that educators design TBL application exercises which will facilitate engaging whole-class discussions. The type of application exercise most associated with TBL is the A.B,C,D Multiple Choice model, which is outlined in x [Link to Stephanie]. Other application exercises that align with the 4S model include: • X Marks the Spot • Gallery task • Make the Grade X Marks the Spot This is where an image is projected onto a wall and teams simultaneously place a marker on the image to indicate a decision they have been tasked with making (specific choice). I used this approach with a group of 15 Consumer Psychology students (year 3 Business Psychology) in a class on persuasive design. A webpage from a shopping website was projected on to the wall. The application exercise required students to apply their learning about cognition and persuasion to pinpoint (with a Post-It note) the area on the webpage that they felt was most problematic in terms of persuading consumers to purchase a product (i.e. teams all had the same, significant practice-related task). This required them to use their learning from their pre-readings, other units from the module, and their reasoning skills to make a specific decision together.