Do you ever ask students if they learned anything before leaving?
I often start the calss lecture with a little bits of information about what I will introduce differently. At the end of my lecture and presentation I ask their opinions and I ask them if they learn anything differently and what did help them. This way I take notes and improve my teaching method. Most important it get them ( students ) to be more involve and alert and interating with the subject. Time well spent.
Nicolette,
I too like reviewing or summarizing. This can also be done as an instructor progresses through the lesson, stopping every few minutes to check for understanding. I call on individual students (at random, using a deck of card with their names one it)to restate what I just lectured on, diuscussed, or demonstrated. Retention does improve by having students repeat and restate key points we want them to remember.
Barry Westling
I think this is an excellent idea! I'm definitely going to use this. Students forget to reflect on what they have just absorbed because they're in a rush to get to their next class or whatever, but thinking about what you just learned is the best way to retain it. They could also use the discussion as an opportunity to clear up any confusion they may have had during the lecture.
Yvette,
I have a deck of cards with students name on it. I use it continuously throughout the class lesson to (randomly) call upon different students. Sometimes I'll (randomly) shuffle the cards, pick out ten names (cards), and ask each one to summarize a portion of what was covered. Students actually enjoy this activity. It's fun, and helps me determine how thoroughly I covered the subjects, and where additional discussion or review may be needed.
Barry Westling
I like asking questions throughout the lecture. And at the end of class I ask the students if the have any questions and when we meet again I recap where we left off.
Hi Sara,
Very nice. Thers also a good feeling students can receive if they retell or summarize a lesson at the end of class. Leaving with a good feeling is likely to reinforce positive feelings about the class with anticipation of returning for more of the same.
Barry Westling
I have also done this. It is a great way to see if the student understands the concept you have just taught but a lot of times when the students explain what they have learned, others students hear the lesson from another perspective. Many times the student retelling the lesson will give points in a different way so that others understand more about the lesson. I use the mostly with math. It helps to have a student demonstrate it because they always put a different twist on it.
Hi Cynthia:
That sounds like a great way of addressing this issue. What some other instructors may also do is write out the daily objectives on the white board, then review them at the end of the learning session and ask the group if they feel like they understood the main concepts.
Regards, Barry
Hi Michelle:
I beleieve if we are agressive in our teaching activities, the answer won't be such a surprise because we'll be certain of the learning taht occured based the instructional method utilizing the "Check for Understanding" method.
Regards, Barry
Yes, I have often asked students what they learned in my class. However, with the adult learner, the instructor must be prepared for any answer they receive. I can appreciate these answers and use it as a tool for my improvement but not all instructors are prepared for this.
Hi Diane:
Another way to look at this is to change the "did you learn..." to "what was learned" i.e., from an opinion to a question or request for feedback. Active reviewing can resolve any uncertainties from this question.
Regards, Barry
Hi Glenn:
Excellent! Also, if time allows, some instructors might review key points at the end of each learning session.
Regards, Barry
Asking students whether they learned anything before they leave the class will allow students to stay focused during class because they don't know if they will be called upon on what was learned. Also what was taught could be reiterated to the students so they will leave class retaining the information that was just taught or ask any questions if they were confused about something that was taught.
Hi Jeff:
Reviewing is always good, in whatever format it comes in. It's said that unless material is reviewed, as much as 90% is lost over 24 hours. To the degree this may be true, that makes review a real priority.
Regards, Barry
I often wait until the following day to see what was retained and then offer a quick refresher on the subject before moving on to new material.
Hi Lorraine:
Yes, it is important to determine early on and regularly if and to what degree student are understanding the material. Reaching a halway point in a class only to find the student is failing is poor classroom management on the part of the instructor.
Regards, Barry
I have asked the students in my 14 week class what they have learned in week 10. I ask then individully and as a group. The response varies. I think it is important for the student to espress their learning to help the instructor with teaching methods. If the student is not learning, then the instructor may need to change their teaching methods.
Hi Mike:
One way to effectively do this is to use the TAPPLE technique throughout the learning process.
Teach
Ask a question
Pause
Pick a non-volunteer
Listen
Echo feedback
Regards, Barry
Hi Jacqueline:What you are doing sounds like a good idea. Many instructors will nearly continuously teach, then check for understanding. By doing so, the lecture or lesson will more forward until the teacher is assured the class has received the needed information.
Regards, Barry
I too open the class with a discussion on what we talked about last session, before we get into the lesson for today. I ask because this gives them a chance to think of the lecture from yesterday. It let's me know what they are receiving from my lecture presentation. Good feedback. Then they go into todays lecture wtih confidence.
Thank you,
Jacci
