Problem retaining the information
What if a student just does not know how retain information and blanks out on test? How do we help that student?
Hi Peter,
Repetitiveness is never a bad thing; afterall that is how we started out learning, just think about when we were learning the ABC's and 123's and even now today this is the normal practice. However, I do understand your more academically gifted students will get bored from too much of this.
Patricia Scales
I have also found repetition to be good in helping as many students as possible retain information. However, it can become monotonous for both the student and teacher, as the students who really "get it" are bored by the constant repetitiveness. I have found that allowing students to come up with review questions related to the course material to ask other students in the class has worked very well. Students not only have to look through their notes to try and develop a review question, they are also checked on their understanding of the course material when trying to answer the question correctly.
Hi Bonnie,
Repetition has worked really well as a teaching method for me. Some students just need to hear it, do it, and see it repeatedly in order to get it. Remember, repetition is how we learned when we were learning our colors, how to count, our ABC's, etc. as a really young kid. Going back to the basics always works well.
Patricia Scales
I teach remedial classes-reading and writing, so many students have difficulty on tests. I make sure to use as many modalities as possible when teaching-visual, auditory and kinetic. I do agree that repetition is good too. I have students study in groups with practice questions so they won't be so nervous during test time.
Hi Jeffrey,
Students learn more and retain more when they are having fun while learning. We have to think of ways to make learning fun.
Patricia Scales
I teach a nutrition class to culinary students. when I first started teaching I used the lecture method and found the students had trouble remembering the material for the test. Than I the had them bring the menus to class that they where cooking in their lab classes. I than showed them how the nutritional information related to what they where actually cooking. I than had them make changes to the menus to make them more nutritious by changing only a few ingredients It made a big differents in the test scores and they had fun.
This is a great idea! I also use self assessments for my students. I give them a chance to assess themselves during the grading phrase. Therefore, they are able to compare their assessment to my final assessment. I have been using this tool to keep my students on track through their course work.
Hi MICHAEL,
Awesome idea! What a great way to hold students accountable. You can really determine how on point the student is.
Patricia Scales
I have the students do a self assesment over night of what they learned and discuss it the next day.
Another approach to this problem can be repetition, I normally repeat the same information a couple of different ways to help reinforce learning and retaining.
Hi Nuance,
The may want to try to use flash cards to study from. Also using acronmyns to recall information is helpful as well. They also may want to try studying a small portion several nights before the test. Using a recorder to study from is helpful too.
Patricia Scales
Hi Ben,
Great pointers to help students retain information. Acronymns always worked well for me. My students love it when we review for a test by playing jeopardy. Learning sticks when it is made fun.
Patricia Scales
Teach them some memory recall methods using techniques such as acronyms. Or maybe for long lits of information or a techniques using several steps you can teach them to put it to the tune of a familiar song or maybe remember it as steps to a recipe.
Also, to eliminate some of the pre test anxiety I teach them to write their own test. In many cases they can predict some of the questions and this familiarity will reduce anxiety and the potential blank-out that comes with it.
