Hi Lois:
Yes, unfortunately too many teachers end up just describing the slide rather than using it as a tool to enhance the learning experience.There are a lot of ways to get a handle on how best to deliver an instructional point or lesson. But at the core you are correct that we ought to be concerned most with student learning. How we go about that chore in the best possible way is the challenge instructors need to carefully ponder. Very honest self analysis. Thanks for sharing
Regards, Barry
Hi Ray:
Providing a variety of media resources can be helpful by bringing to life an otherwise so-so topic. And I agree that sometimes - but not always - the students come up with interesting and effective choices that I would not have thought about using.
Regards, Barry
Hi Philipp:
You teach in a very unique setting that allows a variety of sensory media: both in the kinds of foods and in the kinesthetic use of specialized tools. Your students probably learn to exel or fail based on these "media".
Regards, Barry
Hi Erik:
Yes, I like that term change up, like in baseball when the pitcher "fools" the batter by doing something different and unexpected. This really helps keep the students focused.
Regards, Barry
You have to be flexible and constantly chance up you presantations.
Do not get stuck and use the same PP over and over with out changeing something to the better.
Dear Barry
For my case in particular, I use PP or "hands on Demo". As a Chef, the best way to make sure your student understands and learn the topic is by interacting with them.
In culinary classes it is much easier because the product demonstration many times serves as the learning tool. Through cooking you can have students explore new information by the use of all five senses and this makes it much easier to get them involved. Also just like the puppy and the cat, you have some students eager to learn while others need motivation. I find there is almost no better motivation then food!
I like selecting different media as to what the students are interested in receiving the information. Some subjects it might be as simple as a video. others you might want the students to be interactive with like a mock jepordy game
My current reasons for selecting a particular form of media revolve around the forms I am most comfortable presenting with. For example, I tend to stay away from power point because I end up teaching the slides instead instead of using them to punctuate my lecture. I've been giving this a lot of thought lately and have serious questions as to whether this is acutally sufficent for my students learning and their retention of the material. After all, learning should be student centered, not instructor centered. It is about "learning" more then it is about "teaching". What methods do the students respond best to? It believe it is time to get out of my comfort zone and reassess my choices.
I find that when we were useing overhead progectors that the students did not really have an active role in the presentation just watch and write -some questions but not many-- as with PP and a little anamation with the interactive sence of a PP presentation seems to keep there intrest a LOT longer and it heightens the learning experience and retention of the material covered.Also When presented in a way that the students can actually have a part in the presentation, there intrest is peeked and therfore atleast for me it makes for an overall better experence and an Easier Demo for all.
I choose media based on the four main learning styles. I try to incorporate all four learning styles in every aspect of my lectures,in order to keep my students involved and focused.
to present the material in the most effective way for the students
Hi Mohammed:
Yes, all of the media you listed are effective tools.
As it turns out, the way students learn best is by actually doing or teaching the material themselves. Of course, that'd take a lot of preparation and is not conducive to group learning. But it is a fact that doing is the way we learn.
If you thought about it, you could probably come up with some specific examples from your own life where this tenet could be demonstrated.
Regards, Barry
Regards, Barry
Teaching method is most important for delivering lecture.Powerpoint, overhead projector, blackboard writing is common form of teaching method. Level of students understanding we can use any kind of method.
Hi Bindu:
Absolutely. Involving students, engaging them in multi-media activities, and utilizing activities that invlove multiple senses are going to result in better student retention of information.
Regards, Barry
I use different kinds of media. it helps to focus the attention of the students. just doing a lecture seems to be very dry for some students.
Anthony: Variety is nearly always a success as your post aptly alludes to.
Barry
Where I teach there are multiple campus's that have to have a standardization of the material covered. The power point is structured in such a way as to allow the instructor flexibility to lecture and then lab and go back to lecture. The course that I teach is formatted in such a way that none of the lectures are very long. There is one particular segment in which the students are required to learn a computer program. We show it on the overhead projector then have them listen to training videos then they actually use the program with a procedure book on how to use the program so different learning styles are incorporated to many levels. To rely on one media type limits the use of learning styles
Leslie:
Your statement about the degree of involvement (animation) provided by the facilitator is quite true. It's what can make the difference between an informative but really boring presentation or one that is meaningful and memorable.
Regards, Barry
Our curriculum is developed to use a blend of media and delivery. We use power point, lecture, work books, demonstrations and hands on. This is great but falls flat if the facilitator does not animate themselves. The facilitator is the interactive media that makes or breaks the class.
