Jeff ,
I think students like video's but they need to be relevant and shorter, as most attention spans are short. Unless the material is interesting, students tune out.
Barry Westling
Instructional material depends on the subject for the week. I try to use small group discussions and YouTube videos for most classes
Allen,
Sounds good. For me, I try to think about how best to present material to my students in a way they can understand. It varies from class to class. Feedback I receive suggests students get tired of following PPT slide after slide.
Barry Westling
For me, I like to use PowerPoint presentations to help students better under the concepts of English composition and communication. I have also used handouts, overhead projectors, and the internet--videos, articles, etc.
Daniel,
What's been working well for me is a modified version of "the flipped classroom". Students are expected to read text assignments, view PPT's -- essentially all I would normally lecture about. In class, more time is spent on written exercises, case scenarios, and problem solving. I feel this is where I can provide the most help to the students, where my time and their time is used most effectively.
Barry Westling
pretty much all of our lessons are presented on power point. We (the staff) get together after each class to discuss practical exercises and visual representations that worked well in their classroom. Like mentioned in the class, you have to try to incorporate several methods of instruction as well as several mediums in order to get the most out of it. We have ways that we naturally catagorize or understand information so people tend to put out information how they see it. Brainstorming allows everyone to see various methods and get outside of their "box" a little bit.
Mariann,
Very true, especially in medical or health related professions. Knowing where to get information, how to sort through it, and understanding why it's important takes consistent practice to gain reasonable effectiveness.
Barry Westling
PPT can be helpful, websites contain a lot of information for students in our field of health care. It is a rapidly changing field, updated on a regular basis. Interacting with media to get information is in itself a valuable skill.
Eugene,
There is so much available,most of it good, that the real challenge is deciding what the best method (among many) is to convey the needed information to students. And what is successful for one cohort may not be suitable for the next cohort. Again, I believe looking at resources from the point of view of the student (knowledge, prior learning, readiness) may help define the better delivery mediums.
Barry Westling
Delivery styles regarding the content of the subject matter must be varied in order to keep the students interest. If they enter class on lecture days thinking that information will be delivered in the same manner every time they will loose enthusiasm. A multitude of media delivery systems should be employed by the instructor. Different subject matter will require different approaches. I form a daily course outline several days prior to the subject on the syllabus and pick or create handouts, models or demonstrations that will cause student interaction. During lectures using power points I have found that creating my own fill in the blank sections require the student to stay more alert, especially when I randomly select students to provide answers to the questions immediately following the power point or overview presentation in which they must regurgitate some of the information back to their classmates directly in front of them.
James,
Text can be necessary at times. But with PPT slides, I always have to ask "what's on the slide that could be provided by some other (better) method?" More and more, I use brief statements on PPT slides that guide me through a lecture. Additional slides that accompany my text are usually more of the graphic sort.
Barry Westling
Agreed. PPT is great for instruction that requires an image. In the medical field, our students usually need to see what we are discussing as we discuss it. However, if the slides are only words, they are far better off with handouts, worksheets, any form of group discussion, etc., not just looking at PPT word slides.
Jeffery,
Yep -- and variety helps keep interest and engagement.
Barry Westling
Kathleen,
This sounds terrific. We often forget that there was a time, not that long ago, before there was PPT. And those earlier delivery and presentation methods worked just fine. I still use the flip chart and overhead (when I determine that is the best way for me to teach my lessons.
Barry Westling
Select the media type that would be most effective in getting your content across. My commercial driver's license training can incorporate most every type of popular media. For example, I use YouTube for real accident videos when covering safety. I use PP presentations when covering fact-heavy regulatory instruction. Tactile learning demos are done on the equipment. Catering your choice of media to the subject will definitely pay large dividends in student interest and retention.
Although PPT is the standard today I am still a fan of wirintg on the board. I am elading a licensure review class right now and I enjoy writing on the Board for a variety of reasons:
1) it hightlights the most important information
2) it re-organizes the materail from their textbook so they are not just reading a book to study
3) it encourages the students to take notes becuase they know there is not electronic copy they ave the potnetial to receive
4) it demonstrtes good note taking and study skills
I think seeing a professor write the information whiel verbally explaining it and while taking notes on it promotes improved retention ebcause they are inteeracting the the material in muliple ways.
Ryan,
I think students get bombarded with PPT slides too much. I only use it when I can determine that is absolutely the best method to inform students of material they need. Usually, and in most cases, there are alternative methods that are just as effective. PPT is probably best for graphics, such as photo's illustrations, graphs, charts, tables, schematics, diagrams, and related visual images.
Barry Westling
It depends on the subject. Most of the material is in power point format, though I love using the white boards. I also do pass around displays and hands on demonstration.
