Hi Francis:
Most media should be viewed as tools. The tool should not be the focus, rather a resource that accomplishes some task. I agree slide after slide can get boring, and the are ways of addressing that.
Regards, Barry
Some media are better at getting your points across than others. That being said though I am not a fan of overhead projectors or powerpoint. Overheads seem to take too much room and powerpoints are so common they can actually distract in that everyone utilizes them and their effectiveness is lessened by the boredom of reading another powerpoint slide.
Hi Mike:
Good decription of one way to appropriately use PPT in your instructional delivery.
Regards, Barry
Hi Paul:
Great points. I would add that in math-oriented sessions, having individual students demonstrate their work to the class can help strengthen the students confidence, reinforce their understanding, and provide a degree of leadership and mentoring to weaker students or those having difficulty with selected equations. I'm sure you use this technique when applicable.
Regards, Barry
This is how I do it.
I use the powerpoint as a base and expand with personal knowledge and experience for each applicable slide.
I also use appropriate props extensively while lecturing. I have found that if you pass around the real component while talking about it, the students are much more interactive.
Occasionally, for re-enforcement and a different view, I'll show a video that is relevant to the lesson at hand.
Finally, I use the white board routinely for extra info or illustrations. I am a lousy artist and the students like to tell me so. I use self depricating humor and ask for help from the audience. I often have an artistically talented student do the illustration for me. That makes it more fun for the class. I think it improves the sense of comaradery between the students and myself as well as between the students themselves.
Mike
The subject matter is the key for which media is selected. I teach various math-based classes and the white board is a great way to set up problems for all to see. Frequently a chart or table can be projected onto the board so that less data or lines need to be drawn on the board. This saves class time for actual problem solving.
I agree with the concept mentioned in this module that Power Point presentations should be sparse and to the point. I utilize PP as an outline to anchor my lectures.
Hi Craig:
It sounds like you've found an effective method to reaching your students, with or without PPT. I think there's a way to use PPT without it dominating the students attention and too many instructors either rely on it too much, over use it, or deliver poorly designed slides. Darn, it's hard to have too much PPT all at one time!
Anyway, good that you've weaned yourself away from too much PPT.
Regards, Barry
Hi Carol:
Yes, which underscores the point that just being knowledgeable about a topic doesn't necessarily make for a good instructor.
Regards, Barry
I think power point was my first selection. As a new instructor I was taught to use the PP and it sort of became a crutch. Recently our courses were redesigned with very little PP and alot of lecture. I found that with a good lecture, some training aids (pass arounds) and less PP it became more enjoyable for me and increased the students interest. The fact that I really enjoy what I'm doing seems to have rubbed off on the students in a positive way.
Hi Carol:
Well, it's good to know what works and does not work for you. We all have preferences. The key is to find the media that will work the best for the student.
Regards, Barry
Hi John:
Sounds like you are engaging your students by controlling their attention. All that you describe are good techniques.
Regards, Barry
Hi William:
Most of all your effective methods engage the student in some fashion. I think that will always result in a more meaningful experience for the student and contribute to improved long term memory.
Regards, Barry
Hello,
I agree; the instructor must feel comfortable with the technology.
Some instructors are not even comfortable with writing on the board.
Hello,
I rely too much on handouts. I would like to use media more often than I do. However, convenience is key. I have had some negative experiences with the technology not functioning properly. Classroom space is another factor affecting the use of certain types of technology.
I like to use PowerPoint to have students conduct presentations. I also use Internet on the projector when we are examining website credibility.
I engage the students by using different methods, showing props to hand out, raising and lowering my voice, calling on them to answer a question, walking around the room during discussion.
An evaluation of the material to be covered will give clues as to differing media choices. My feeling, in general is that choice of media with todays students, while important is not critical. What is critical is that we vary the delivery often. Any one choice can easily be overdone.
I also have a preference for interactive media; For example putting on a video or movie and walking away is one of the least effective methods. Editing a presentation down to its core info and guiding students through with commentary of your own keeps them involved. Giving them study questions to watch for prior to starting is also effective.
Posters and artwork in the classroom help to focus on the message. It is important that what goes on inside the classroom is more interesting than what is happening outside its windows.
Using web sites and interactive wikis, virtual field trips, etc. are other choices: Still the key is interactivity - minimize one way conversations and utilize all available media in an informitive manner.
Hi Rob:
You bring up a very interesting point. Obviously there are some skills and taining that must be always provided in real time by a live, knowledgeable instructor.
However, innovative trends and individuals are always coming up with newer methods that address better (or equivalent) training methodologies - many times in the online delivery format. So I wouldn't be surprised if more online instruction in trdaditionally hands-on only settings begin to appear.
Regards, Barry
Hi Andrea,
Both you and Brenda affirm the importance of having real-world, hands-on, professional tools available for learning, along with the presence of an expert instructor that can facilitate and evaluate the students' progress.
I feel, with today's push to put all programs online, we risk losing those special learning environments in some programs and may end up producing students that have more difficulties entering the profession. Are you experiencing the push for "online migration" and do you feel it's possible with the cullinary arts?
Hi Rob:
Finding that perfect blend of media that suitable for each learning session can be a challenge for committed instructors. We have the knowledge - trying to find the best way to transfer that knowledge takes some thinking and planning. I agree it's wise to vary your media depending on the delivery format. What works perfectly in one setting may totally inappropriate for another.
Regards, Barry
Hi Andrea:
Yes, and as we have discussed, these are useable, viable media choices for your special learning environment.
Regards, Barry
