I am fortunate to teach a subject(economics) that is "in the news" every day, but I have found that most of my students do not follow the news! If their Internet homepage does not contain some headlines, they are uninformed! So even though the subject is contemporary, I have to find ways to make the content relevant to each student's everyday life activities...
The best way to maintain content relevance is to maintain instructor currency in the field of expertise and maintain the currency of the content.
Hi Mindy,
Good point. Showing application of the math concepts to other setting is a real value added part of teaching for your students. Having fun learning math is even better. I wish you the best in your teaching.
Gary
Teaching math I am always working on new ways to show the students how my class will help them in their careers. Most students hate math and I try to make it fun so they will leave with a new perspective on the subject.
Hi Sam,
I agree completely. Immediate use of newly acquired knowledge is a great way to increase retention. I am guessing there are some real "aha" moments when they find out that math can be used anywhere and not just in a math class. Thought they would have gotten that in elementary school but I find many of them miss it clear through college.
Gary
When I am teaching Foundations of Math courses, I try to relate the concepts to real-life situations (using percents to figure discounts at Macy's, using perimeter to measure for house renovations, etc.)
I truly believe that without rigor and relevance, I am not giving my students the challenges that learning should provide. Connecting the dots between what the students already know and how this new information applies to that, to them, to their world, is crucial to their success in retaining what they have learned.
I teach a class on Career Management. I ensure that the materials presented in class are relevant by an continuously enhancing the course content with current industry trends in career options.
I like to make the course relevant by continuing to remind students that this example is something they will come across in the real-world, meaning in the business world. The students might get bored with topics until they hear that this might actually apply to them or, better yet, if they can already relate to the topic at hand.
Hi Rosie,
Good job of using different learning preferences for your online students. This way they get to work within their preferred learning area and get feedback from their instructors through these different mediums as well.
Gary
Since I teach online, the course content is provided visually for the students to read and understand. In certain cases, I use audio back-up when students call me on my cell phone. Finally, I use examples and sample formats - a visualization - so that those who could benefit from this style will be supported in the online environment.
Hi Ava,
Great balance to how you offer students different application points along the learning pathways. These different methods will keep the students engaged and focused on what they are being taught.
Gary
I use a variety of teaching methods to make the course relevant to the learning needs of students. First, I make sure that my lectures are concise and include just the information that students need to know without a lot of extra verbiage. Second, I usually include some sort of opportunity for students to apply what they have learned while the information is fresh. Finally, I include lab time as often as possible. For composition students this means an opportunity to conduct research or complete their written assignments via computer during class time.
This was a good refresher.
After 4 years of teaching it is good to look at the basics again. It is very difficult trying to keep the students interested.
Yes I am part actor comedian and morale support for my students.
Following the school's description of course content, I adapt onto the lesson plan obtained knowledge and updates from both work experience and seminars. I also apply the mini-lecture concept in the clinical classes for instructions, demonstration and direct application.
The students' feedback are great after the externship. I teach both theory and clinical classes, and I receive an interesting range of feedback from the students.
Some of the students start to define clearly what they would like to continue in regards to careers and others are able to easily connect theory and applications in regards to returning back to school after being out of school for a long time.
Some of the things I will do would be after the lecture or demonstration I would give a real world problem to solve. This brings out the teqniqes we used the day before or from the same day. the students really get into this and it almost becomes a game of who can solve the problem in the most efficiant way.
Well I try several avenues for instruction, as to apeal to all learning styles. First i will give a lecture on a subject or portion of a subject, then i will move on to a powerpoint of that sublect or portion along with handing out physical parts to go along with the discussion were having. Then ill use the whiteboard and allow students to come to the whiteboard and "demo" the testing of components we've seen and handled in a mock up presentation. Lastly i allow the students to see where these parts or components are in relation to the unit were working on. And test those parts before doing the whole system
I am fortunate to teach theory and operation in a field where I spent many years as a technician. Although technology has, is and will continue to change drastically in the automotive field, basic principles have not changed. This makes keeping the course relevant to students needs a fairly easy task. By blending history with current and future technology, showing the students why and how we "got here" as well as where technology is leading the industry, keeps the courses relevant and more importantly, interesting.
Hi Richard,
The brain likes variety and you are appealing to the learning part of the brain by using the different approaches to the content. Plus as you mentioned you are hitting upon the different learning preferences of your students. This way everyone wins.
Gary
I try to mix the lecture with the hands on, doing the lecture with Power Point and pictures along with actual parts and pieces for inspection. This covers most of my learning types as well as the differences in abilities. It shows them the path to to our final goal for that topic.
Hi Jerry,
I am sure that you see your students "perk" up when you give examples of what you did when you were in the field. This helps to bridge the gap between theory and application.
Gary
