The Ripple Effect: How Chaos Theory can Transform Education

Abstract

Background: The education atmosphere in a class could influence students’ attitude and their understanding and willingness to collaborate in a class. Chaos has a different meaning for different students and lecturers. Sometimes this same chaos could be the best possible paradigm or teaching strategy to influence students to have a deeper understanding of the work. The use of chaos theory in higher education could allow for a different way in which students view information and how they engage and collaborate in the class. Focus: In this research the use of chaos theory in Higher Education Institutions classrooms was researched to be able to answer the following research question: How do students and lecturers perceive the impact of chaos theory on fostering deeper learning and critical thinking in academic settings? Methodology: A qualitative research design was followed to determine how students experienced this approach of teaching, and the experience from the lectures who apply this theory and method of teaching in the class.  A case study design was followed to discover how the method is implemented in class and students used an open-ended questionnaire to explain their experience. The lecturers involved also filled in an open-ended questionnaire to explain the difference between the normal teaching strategy they used in their classes in relation to the chaos theory. Purposive sampling was used to determine who will be part of the study. Only lecturers who were willing to test the results regarding the chaos theory were asked to take part in the study. Results and implications: A paradigm change could contribute to deeper learning. The way lecturers approach this theory in the classroom contributed to a new approach of lecturing to use in the classroom to ensure students gain deeper learning in a different way than before. Students experience the situation differently and from the case study it was clear that lectures and students explain that this method of discovering and exploring need to be develop more in classrooms and students need to get the opportunity to be exposed to this method of lecturing. In the light of this, a recommendation to lecturers will be to explore this method of instruction and allow students to discover information in a different method. Keywords: Chaos theory, Deeper Understanding, Teaching Strategies, Students Attitude & Education Atmosphere.