Connie,
Using a variety of media resources, coupled with alternating delivery activities helps keep the interest and makes learning fun and enjoyable. I think students do better when they feel they are being instructed in creative ways and thier teacher is truly interested in their successfulness.
Barry Westling
Esperanza,
A good plan-B should be developed so that it can be substituted for plan-A and achieve the same outcome. I think a good back-up plan is low tech, can be implemented on short notice, closely related to the topic, and be beneficial for student learning. The students will not like feeling they're just filling time. Keeping the activity related to their career field is a sure-fire way to keep interest.
Barry Westling
I try and use a variety of ways to present the material. I try and utilize at least one tactile exercise.
I utilize an anatomy coloring book, clay and drawing on the body to reinforce what was just presented in the Power Point.
I am a little(!) OCD about class prep and I always have a Plan B, just in case. If I plan to use slides as part of my lecture, I also prepare handouts just in case the AV system fails. I always have a few games and group activities that I could modify and embellish at a moment's notice to either supplement or replace my planned presentation for the day. Even if I never use them, these are what I consider my "secret weapons" that I constantly update and improve on, to combat the ennui that creep in when students are on information overload.
Valerie,
Great! A good back-up plan should be as solid as the regular, planned activity. I've found the times I've initiated a back-up plan most commonly is when whatever I had planned is not able to be conducted for whatever reasons. So, for back-up plans, I use activities that are low tech, easy to implemment, related to the subject matter, involves their primary career choice, and is interesting and fun. I don't want students to feel as though I'm just filling time. Also, if done smoothly, the students don't even have to know something different from what was planned is occuring.
Barry Westling
I use games to redirect student's focuse and they seem to enjoy the competition. Over the course of their program we also like to bring in guest speakers from the clinical setting to speak with about their field and other subjects within the scope of the program. There have been times that I ask the students what they are interested in doing and it usually turns out there is a subject they would like to review further or take time to review something in lab...this has worked well.
Yoon Sik,
Very nice. Some back up plans need to be activated by the teacher when, for reasons beyond their control, what was plkanned cannot be performed. This is when a good back-up plan is invaluable.
Barry Westling
My backup plans are to upload my course into more than one folders so that my students can access it via many different methods, such as email, Instructor files, the archived recordings, etc.
Dr. Kim
Bradley,
I have to say that some games can be instructional. If they're more for entertainment, and used just to fill time, I agree it would be better to find another activity. Getting a guest speaker or planning a field trip at the last moment would seem impractical. Back-up plans should be related to the subject and course objectives, easy to implemment, low tech, interesting, and contribute to student learning.
Barry Westling
You must keep the students intrested by showing enthusiaism in what you are teaching. If you don't then you must resort to games when you teach a trade. the ride alongs and feild trips are a good substitution for useless little games.
Patricia,
This sounds great! It's directly related to the topic, keeps students busy and focused, and allows you to quiz or test on the material, or have the students present the results of their research if you so desire.
Barry Westling
If the class is large I use small group research/activities - they will often learn more comprehensively from their peers.
I also have extra handouts for students who complete their work ahead of time.
I have learned that I can't rely on the power points to refresh my memory because technology isn't always dependable!
Where there is a lot of new vocabulary involved, students seem to enjoy word searches.
Kelsey,
I think that it's phenomenal you are able to get a whole course of printed resouces readied before the class begins. But when you do, as you say, you are ready for unexpected delays or when things take longer than expected. Having students write questions for discussion later is great if there is not enough time at present.
Barry Westling
I have gotten in the habit of ordering all the copies needed for the entire course before the course begins to avoid any problems with making copies.
I also have many in class activities such as debate, terminology crosswords that I fall back on if we have technical difficulties.
I stick to a strict schedule. If the comment section runs long I ask the student to write down their thoughts for future discussion and move on to the next topic.
Ruth,
These are great! I like that you've adapted feedback forms, as video's unless directly related to your topic are static and really don't stimulate active thought. To contrast, if the teeacher demonstated something, then had the students practice, that skill would be memorialized and practical much more than sitting and watching a video. That said, videos's are an effective means to convey information (sometimes the only way).
Barry Westling
I find little videos that augment the course material. These usually generate discussion and may involve a rating sheet or feedback form. I also have a file of case studies and role-play scenarios to use as supplemental classroom activities.
Kathy,
Games are great and students like them. A test to determine if a back-up plan is good is to assess "could it be easily substituted for the main topic and the students would not know the difference?". If so, then plan-A, plan-B, or plan-C are all acceptable as alternative ways to deliver the lesson material. A good back-up plan is interesting, easily accessible, can be implemmented on short notice, and low tech. These criteria will assure the students will not have their time wasted if a back-up plan has to be instituted.
Barry Westling
I think that using games and aids are helpful with keeping the students attention and make the class fun
Norman,
Well, I believe people always like stories, and anything relatede to a story is more likey to be recalled later. This is a great way to use the available time productively too. We want to avoid having students think we are just filling time.
Barry Westling
I like to use historical vignettes that demonstrate the concepts. It changes the pace of the instruction, involves the learners, and further reinforces the validity of the content.
