Varying the Instructional Approach
A varied approach is one that tries different methods in order to get to what is best for the students. Lecture, demonstration, discussion and so forth are all good. But, be flexible.
Hi Carlos,
Good plan for keeping the students focused on what is going on in class. Also, you get to see how effective your content sharing was through the answers the students give.
Gary
Sometimes before going on through material I pick on a few students to give feedback on what I have just finished lecturing on. Then I have another student critique what was just said. I will have another student give an example of what was just lectured, repeated, critiqued & illustrated.
This gets them all thinking, not knowing who will be called.
I think this is most important tool. I can read the students faces when they have had enough lecture, are bored or overwhelmed. Changing things up makes all the difference.
I agree. the flexibility kicks in when I am lecturing (usually mini-lecturing) and I see restive behavior or disengagement. I keep a few tricks up my sleeve to vary the pace: a group exercise, a "dipstick" assessment, or a short, amusing story related to the content at hand.
