Hi Ward,
Sounds like a great plan to me. If the students can realize and appreciate how important math is in the culinary arts then they will appreciate how math can help them in all parts of their lives.
Gary
Hi Angela,
I use learning teams, competitions and special projects to keep my students interested and engaged. For example I will break the class up into small groups of 5-6 students and then assign them to draw on a flip chart an example of a concept we are studying. One concept last week was documentation. So I had them draw with figures and symbols the work documentation. They drew a stick figure of a doctor, a female sheep (ewe) and then a breath mint. Doc-ewe-mint. Another groups dealt with another topic, another a different topic until each group had an assignment. We then posted the sheets with the drawings on the wall. Everyone had a good laugh but they could remember each concept they needed from the class for that night.
The key is to engage their minds, bodies and interest in as many different ways as you can to keep the class moving forward.
Gary
I am learning more aboutmy teaching subject constantly so I can be relevant.
Hi Virginia,
This is a great method. What you are providing your students are guided notes. By taking the detail out of the PP slides you are asking the students to follow along on the major points while filling in their own notes on the printed slide sheets. This reduces their time of writing while keeping them focused on the key points. They should get a good set of notes after these sessions.
Gary
I begin with my classes feedback. At the end of each block our students tell us what they thought of the class and how they feel we did in teaching the subject matter.
Secondly I always try to learn more about what I am teaching. This is the real fun. No matter what I have taught , there is always more to learn about the material.
Thirdly I always try to make what I teach relevant. It's funny, I am teaching math in a culinary school and at the beginning of every block the students want to know why they need math if they are learning to be Chefs. I won't go into my entire lecture about that here but suffice it to say that when I am done they understand and as the course progresses they know how important it is.
I need to find more interesting ways to teach my current class. The kids are bored and are not learning what they need to.
I agree with Louis. I'm a first quarter teacher and the first few weeks was very tricky. I was glad to get the survey after week 4 do I can make changes to help my students improve
You can further develop your instructional style by talking to past professors or else by just talking to your students and knowing what they enjoy and are compatible with in accordance to your own style. I think it is a trial and error and your instructional style will be tweaked and improved as you teach more classes.
In my class I have to put so much information on my power points because my students are not that adept at taking notes, and so what I do is mail my power point to them with all the detail taken out. It is their responsibility to print them out and bring to class, this way their note taking follows the format of my power point presentation. I found this method very useful.
I am currently in the middle of my first LVN term, but I do have an RN who is assisting me in the class with non instructional tasks, she often is in class when I am lecturning. I think that I am going to have her evaluate my teaching style so that I can make changes while I am curently teaching. Thanks for the input.
I think having your class evaluate you, then analyzing that information can tell you what you need to work on as an instructor. It may also be useful to sit in on other classes to see how other teaching styles work, and if they might work for you. Taking teaching workshops, either on-line or in person, could help develop your style for future classes.
power point and the new technologies makes teching more effective
Hi Bryan,
You nailed it with your statement "variety is the key" because it really is. This is how you keep your students engaged and focused on the course content. Sounds like you have a number of strategies that you use to keep them invested in the course and what you are offering them.
Gary
Hi Jason,
This is great to hear. I always enjoy hearing about the successes of instructors and how they get excited about doing something different and using something new in their teaching.
Gary
Hi Jimly,
Work on breaking the scientific methods down into small "chunks" of information or application and you will do well as an instructor. Students need to internalize the new information and they can do that in small bites of new knowledge. Use review techniques frequently to check for understanding and this way you will know if your students are "getting it" in terms of new knowledge. If they aren't you then can break the information down even smaller and work from there. You will be surprised that how much easier this gets once you have taught the course a couple of times.
Gary
I also find that surverys are a valuable way for instructors to naviagate how the information that we give is being received. I feel that our students will tell us things in surveys that they may not tell us in person and it is our responsibility to take what is said to heart and make changes if necessary.
I read current blogs, journals, magazines to stay ahead on topics and new technologies that affect my industry.
In addition to this, I often find time to talk with other instructors to see how they present certain information. For example, is it better to give video demonstrations of some content, or would a field trip be more appropriate?
I prefer being able to give my students specific examples, so I am always experimenting with new ways to learn information as well as the best way to present it. I may try a guest speaker for one activity, or a hands-on approach in class for another. Variety is key.
When I learned the ins and outs of power point it set a whole new dinamic for me in the kitchen/classroom enviorment. The students interaction is great it keeps me on my pre determind timeline and it interactive and intresting.
Working with chefs who do demonstrations, watching food network demos and cooking shows all help to spark ideas of communication in the kitchen setting. I love bring in new tactics in the classroom.
As a new instructor, I find my hands on approach to be the most successful for the students, and myself. I am still eager to learn how to improve the "lecture" sessions of class. Its always challenging to "simplify" in depth scientific methods so that the students can understand the content.
Hi Magdy,
Good strategies both for instructional improvement. You are getting feedback from two critical sources that can help shape your effectiveness as an instructor.
Gary
