I treat each class term as if I had not taught it before, so I can switch up different instructional media that I have found or created along the way.
Joyce,
Sounds like a fun and engaging exercise. I think whenever we can involve students in routine or special activities, they're bound to take more interest, retain more information, and relate their activity to the topic at hand. For instance, if I'm lecturing, I'll have a student come and be my "write on the board" guy. That way, I can circulate around and better engage students.
Barry Westling
We use the power points that are included in our instructor manuals from our text. I take out certain words and have the class participate in answering the blanks. This helps with not having the class want to go to sleep. We also use white boards, I assign teams and 2 come to the board and whoever answers first, the team gets a point. These points are transferred into either extra credit or sometimes little prizes for the team. This also gets the students out of their seats as we have no labs in our course. I would love to hear some other ideas that may help.
Thank You
Steve,
Many students enjoy and actually learn better when multimedia and technology resources are used. I think the main thing is to insure lots of variety so students don't get bogged down with too much of the same delivery methods.
Barry Westling
I like to use as much media as possible to emphaise points and clarify issues. Power point works well along with youtube and other video resources
I am totally agree with you. I also believe this is very effective way to educate people. I also believe that all students have to be involve in the learning process individually on the daily basis. I call it "no escape" method. Than you are surprising one or an other your student with some closed-ended question. It is helping to keep the student attention and it does make your lecture more dinamic
Brian,
Great. You're using your instructional instinct in planning your media, as should all instructors.
Barry Westling
I am flexible in my media delivery depending upon the content of the information and the goal in sharing with the students. I use Power Point when presenting specific subject topics which are essential to the course curriculum, however, I may opt for a dvd presentation when giving an overview of how an industry functions.
Jennifer,
Sounds very thought out and interactive. Great!
Barry Westling
I use powerpoints a good bit with my instruction, however, I try not to make it so boring. We take breaks every few sections and I have them work together in a group to answer a specific question, or do additional research about the topics we are discussing.
John ,
This is great that you make "on-the-fly" adjustments. This is actually a version of student cenetered learning, a topic that is included in this module.
Barry Westling
I select media for content delivery by assessing the class during the lectures. If the class is moving along at an advanced pace I'll use short "behind the scenes" films demonstrating professionals in the field. If the class is struggling to comprehend the lecture I'll use a PowerPoint presentation to break down the material in to easily understandable points.
John M.
Jimin,
Good. Adult learners (young and older) want and need variety to keep their attention and to enhance the learning cycle. Being prepared to offer mutimedia into our lessons assures we reach most of the different learners and their varied learning styles and differences.
Barry Westling
It depends on case by case. However, various selection of media always help them to focus in the class. Especially for young student, I use two or more selection of media (such as audio, video, powerpoint) to grab their attention. This can also relate to them closer and trying to find similar material on their own as well.
Cynthia,
Sure. Good instructors will use all of their resources to provide better clarity, understanding, and interest to their class lessons. Students appreciate the variety and as a result, tend to retain information better.
Barry Westling
I like to select media depending on the content. PPT is great for certain concepts; models for hands on experience; white board for emphasis during lecture points.
Eleana,
Verey true. I have seen instructors use media they were not familiar with anad it did not set well with students.
Barry Westling
I think the most important thing is to select instructional media that the instructor is most comfortable with. It is important to master the media in order to be effective with the lecture/teaching.
Lynette,
Good for you. It's interesting how a good quote can capture an idea or principle in a very common sense way. It's really the power of words and wisdom that makes quotes an effective "icing on the cake" of a complete class session.
Barry Westling
I'm glad that you mentioned quotes. I'm always on the lookout for ones that will enhance a topic of discussion in my classroom. Some are serious, but I love the funny ones as well.
