Hi LeeAnn:
This sounds like a great way of using a variety of techniques, which will only serve to address every type of learning style.
Regards, Barry
As most teachers, I pick instructional material that is relevant to the course I am teaching. Our library has wonderful DVD's and videos that have been selected and I use them quite often if I want to show the instructional DVD and then perform the task for the students and then have then do a return demonstration. My students always love to watch videos on different surgeries so I always pick a different one depending on what chapter we are covering in the textbook.
Whatever I have on hand that can help in the delivery of the material covered.
The media that I usually use are PowerPoint and white boards. I find PowerPoint a good complement for lectures. Slides can be created that contain the major concepts that I want to cover. White boards are very valuable for answering student questions and recording multistep problems and other assignments.
I could use some help in this area - I tend to use the same things over and over and it gets boring. I'm currently exploring new technology that I haven't used before, but need more practice before I debut it. I'm currently working on updating an online course and plan to add a some learning tools to it - good practice and I can easily measure how it's working. Instructional media has to be selected based on how it works with the learning content, but also should be somewhat tailored to the type of students. Overall, use enough different methods to keep things interesting and engage all students.
Hi Emily:
Great idea - the basic concept is to use a variety of approaches to be sure to address every type of learning style.
Regards, Barry
The first criteria I look at is ease of use. How easy is the media to use? Does it require a lot of setup time and preparation? If it does require a lot of setup time and preparation, I discard it. I'm busy enough without adding to my plate the frustration of figuring out technology.
My second criteria is does it add to or enhance the classroom presentation? Does it make it easier for my students to grasp or comprehend the material? In fact, isn't that the main purpose of using technology in the first place, to make it easier for students to learn? Here, you do have to be careful that technology does not serve as a distraction. I have sat through too many presentations where technology only muddled the waters and made the presentation confusing. So again, in my opinion, its primary purpose is to enhance the presentation of classroom material not take away from it.
The third criteria I use is entertainment or "shock value." When stating "shock value," I don't necessarily mean something provocative or vulgar, but only something that will grab the students attention to make or reinforce a point. Unfortunately, many of our students are entertainment addicted, so the use of media in your classroom lectures or presentations almost becomes a necessity. Otherwise, you may lose them to the God of boredom or sleep.
The last criteria I look at is availability. I work at a small private career college so they may not have all the technology at their disposal that our more "higher" institutions of learning possess. Although I believe our school has excellent technology resources, they may not be "up" on all the newest trends; but that doesn't bother me. I'm a bit of a technology Neanderthal anyway.
I agree. It's nice to have a power point lecture or an overhead projector just as a nice change from the day to day boring lecture. Some students learn better this way with a visual instead of just hearing lecture. It's also nice to have pictures in the powerpoint to give the students a better idea of what you're talking about.
I use power point presentation b/c it can be colorful, animated, and informative also easy to relate too
If I have material for a class lecture, that students may need to access offsite then I will generally place that information into a PP slide show, that will then be uploaded to a course content page on a faulty/student portal. If the information is related to that specific days workload, such as a production schedule or a recap/outline of the days high points that the students may need to look at as they are working then the whiteboard works.
In any class there are students with a variety of learning styles. An instructional technique that is easy for one student to understand may be difficult for another. A variety of instructional techniques takes all of this under consideration.
Hi Sarah:
The nice thing about the approach you are describing here is that you use a variety of techniques. The value of doing so increases the chance that you are addressing every type of learning style.
Regards, Barry
Hi Jill:
The greatest thing about what you're describing here is that by using multiple techniques, you increase the chance to teach to every type of learning style.
Regards, Barry
I teach pastry arts at a culinary school. Each day I try to make sure that the students "see" the information in at least three different ways. My demonstration, the powerpoint, white board and sometimes a video that shows alternate forms of the same technique.
I survey my students at the beginning of each term asking them "How do they learn best?" I give them examples such as PowerPoint slides, handouts, "hands-on" activities and others, if they feel this question is too broad or vague. Then, each week I try to use a different media that touches on each student's response. This gives them the impression that they are important for me to adapt my instructional efforts to their learning style.
I like that you can modify the content of the power point presentation and make it conform or fit into my planned lecture. When I use any power point presentation I print it for the students so they can take notes and I attach the presentation to the student portal. This allows the student to return to the material if they need to before an exam.
I can see how as an online instructor you are really limited by the learning platform to what media you can even use in your course. I would think that then you have to ensure that the content is very concentrated with the material you want to deliver.
I select the media that is going to reenforce the material that I will be covering in class that day or for a future skill that the students will be performing. I use it to enhance the written and lectured content for that particular segment or chapters that are being covered in the course.
The type of media used all depends on the lesson for that class topic. We were on the topic about perception so I was able to locate some information from a specific website that was beneficial; also some instuctors will use YOU TUBE as a resource.
Uae a variety of methods to keep attention to a maximum when possible.
