It is important to offer a variety of instructional delivery methods to address all learning styles. Using only one method would address those students who favor that method and the other students would be lost. Not only lost but cheated out of being successful in the class. As an instructor, you must reach all students not just a few.
Robert,
The more change of pace and variety you can offer the better. You have this plan in place with your strategies and I am sure you have a higher level of engagement as a result.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Students learn in different ways and they have short attention spans. If you were to only lecture, for example, then you would lose the hands-on learners. Also, after about 18 minutes most of the students' minds would be wandering. So I prefer to mix thing up.
Pandora,
Your last sentence is what all instructors need to do if they are going to keep their students engaged. Targeting instruction is a must as each class changes in dynamics and needs. Thank you for making this good point.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Although many may think of teaching as a static environment I find it requires a great deal of intuition and creative flexibility. We all know from class to class and student to student there is an individual entity to each. Therefore it is best to have a varied repertoire to customize and also keep the mix interesting, for both the classroom content and learning experience.
Linda,
With experience I am sure you are going to come up with some very effective alternative teaching methods for your students. You are doing a number of very exciting things already so it will be an expansion on these as well as what ever new ideas you come up with.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Some classes lend themselves more to variety than others. Also, the amount of time I have to give the information is key in how much diversity I can add to a class. In longer lecture or lab classes I try to cater to the different learning types using everything from YouTube videos to hula hoops to molding clay. In one hour classes I find time restrictions also restrict how inventive I can get with my lectures. Since I am a tactile learner myself it might take me a time or two teaching a class before I come up with alternative teaching methods.
Ashley,
You are teaching such an important area and I commend you for your efforts in trying to make connections between your content and the different career fields of your students. Being an effective communicator is valued no matter what your field may be and our students need to see that as they are taking the English course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Stephen,
This is such a great feeling as you mention. When students see other students learning they start to see the value of the learning community of which they are a part. This is when career growth becomes a reality for students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I teach English, and have also had the opportunity to "relearn" the material by teaching it. I struggle with varying instructional delivery because demonstrations in English are a bit more passive than with technical courses, but I try to mix it up with lecture, modeling, questioning, then having students do the skill on their own.
For starters to meet the individual learning needs of your students. I also enjoy seeing other students witness when the peers have that proverbial light bulb turn on who may not have "gotten" the material at first delivery. I think that moment inspires the first and latter mentioned students.
I also truly believe the senses I get trigger the better the recall.
Read it, write it, say it, touch it, feel it, and move it!
Ana,
This is what good teaching is all about. We need to appeal to the different learning preferences of our students throughout the duration of the course. This is how we will keep them focused on what we are sharing.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It's important to offer a variety of instructional delivery methods so that students are engaged. When students are engaged, they retain better and focus on the content.
Lisa,
You have a good instructional delivery plan in place so keep using it. As for class projects I know you are going to like the results you get when you implement this method because the students really become engaged in the development process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This helps deliver course content in an effective way. Depending on what objective is being taught, the students can learn through video, lab or hands on, mini-lectures and reading. I would like to start expanding on class group projects. I need to develop tools for this.
Patricia,
Your observation is right on and illustrates how we need to strive to keep the focus of our students for the duration of the course. I like your point about not lowering the standards in your class but striving to maintain even when some of the students are not as focused as they should be.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I would think the purpose would be to keep every type of student engaged and focused throughout the lecture. As an instructor, we need to make sure that there is value in our delivery, i.e., to have the student walk away with the necessary content.
Darrren,
This is a good point in terms of needing to plan for the different learning preferences of students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Gerald,
What are some ways you do this with your students?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Each student learns in their own way. By using a variety of instructional methods you enhance the learning environment and increase retention of material.
