Hi Carla,
Great way to include your students in a variety of different ways. The interaction between them gives them a chance to get to know each other as well as contribute to the course in their own ways. This is what helps to make online courses valuable to students as opposed to just taking a course.
Gary
I have a pulling it together session midway and at the end of each module. I pull all the skills/topics taught that half of the module with case studies. It promotes critical thinking skills and gives value to the skill learned.
Have you considered using case studies projected by your projector, and leave up instructions for the activity for your group? I have done that as well as using the projector to put up my jeopardy game, and other activities. Necessity is the mother of invention.
GREAT point... I really believe in the multiple intellegence theory. Everyone is very much a Kaleidoscope with varying abilities to learn influenced by culture, abilities, right brain vs left brain tendences, educational exposure as they grew up. That is why I am very patient with my students and change my teaching strategies up with each group.
I consider different teaching methods to accomodate the visual, auditory, reading and tactile learning styles. Each lecture is divided up with mini lectures, discussion, reading lab steps, and demonstration of acquired knowledge in lab. I vary my teaching enough to ensure everyone has an opportunity to learn.
Hello Barbara,
As an online and classroom instructor I find that mixed methods is very effective in both environments. I really like utilizing visual aids and hands-on activity to really elaborate on course content. Sometimes this is challenging in the online environment. I feel certain that I am most successful in reaching my students when the chat sessions are shorter and broken up by multiple participatory activities. I often ask students for feedback on activities and find that small group discussion is very effective in the online environment for reaching many learning styles. Thanks, Carla
I couldn't agree more, Sarah. I find this approach is very effective.
Hello Dr. Meers,
I plan my instructions with a wide variety of learning opportunities for myself and my students. I begin each new course with an exploration of the students' learning styles and preferences. After a few surveys, polls, and practice activities it is a great deal of fun to create innovative ways to deliver course material. I use lots of visual aids in my online classroom such as power point, video, and hands-on demonstrations for the students. I also plan many opportunities to engage students directly to help understand their comprehension of the material for each lecture and learning opportunity. I utilize Adobe/Breeze platform, whiteboard, discussion boards, telephone calls, and email to help stay connected with students on their level. Sometimes engaging students to learn their learning preferences is like pulling teeth, certainly tough to do. Other times the process of accommodating student learning preferences is as simple as showing a series of pictures and asking the students to identify with a picture that speaks to their particular learning style. I really love to utilize the VAK/T learning style assessment with my students, but I am also careful to show them that answering the questions in different ways changes their results. I can usually tell within the first few days of class when a student needs one-on-one attention, so I set aside extra time to work with that student over the phone on course assignments. I find that allowing for interactive discussion boards, study groups, live chats, phone calls, and open session office hours makes me very accessible to my students and increases their learning opportunities through various learning mediums.
Thanks,
Carla Denman
Hello Dr. Meers and participants,
As an online instructor I utilize many methods of information delivery. Through the use of visually effective power point, podcasting, student polls, whiteboard presentations, and even email scavenger hunts I help students to learn the objectives of the course. I also establish study groups within the course to facilitate the development of students’ imagination and creativity. I love to help students explore their learning styles and develop their own learning identity.
Thank you,
Carla
To remain focused on what you deem to be relevant to your course an instructor must frequently go back to your goals and objectives. Ensure that the content you are delivering is relevant to your established goals and objectives. If not, you will have to either forego that topic or change your goals and objectives.
Use as many different teaching styles as possible to capture the needs of the students.
i try and make each subject relevant to something the students have experienced or will experience in the future. This gives validation to the importance of the information.
Hi Justine,
Good way to bring balance to your instructional delivery while appealing to the different learning preferences of your students. You are on the right track for keeping them engaged and focused on the course.
Gary
I teach English and have the students write a journal early in the term on how they learn best. Many responses give specifics (handouts, group work, etc.) and many refer to the different types of learners. This is helpful feedback and I try to implement their suggestions when I can. I find it fairly easy to incorporate readings, visuals and auditory information, but I find tactile learning to be the hardest (for an English course). I definitely limit lectures to 10-15 minutes and even within that time, I encourage input from the students so it's not just me talking at them.
On the first day of class, I like to take a survey of my class. I like to ask questions that allow me to gauge my student’s knowledge and ability. This gives me an opportunity to strategize my lectures and pace of the entire course.
Elaine,
I like this approach. I think I will incorporate the worksheet into my future classes, so that I can get a better handle on the learning styles. This is an area in which I am not as knowledgable coming from a technical and not educational background. Thank you for the post and information.
You are right on track here; a varied style is your best chance at success. The hard thing is keeping your intensity and imagination up as an instructor to keep the class fresh. Some of those 3 to 4 hour lecture classes are brutal for instructors and students!
By teaching and providing the appropriate tools for all types.
Hi Michael,
This is a good way to demonstrate relevancy to your students. You are connecting the content of your course with their lives out side of school. This is important for them to see as they progress through their coursework.
Gary
Hi Manuela,
Great to hear how you are setting up your courses for the next cycle. You are going to do well as you gain experience and expertise in the classroom.
Glad to hear that the course has been of value to you. Let me know if I can be of any future help to you as well.
Yours in teaching.
Gary
