Offering Varied Instructional Delivery
Why is it important to offer a variety of instructional delivery methods in classes?
Varied instructional delivery does several important things: (1)dispels boredom, (2)addresses different learning styles, (3)provides classroom energy, (4)provides a sense of drama, wonder, expectation, (5) makes learning fun.
Ifind it to be very important and useful to add a variety of teaching techniques with adult learners. This helps reach all types of learners.
I definitely believe varying instructional styles is important because it has been established that some learners are audio, some are visual, and some need both depending on the subject area. I tend to do slides so students can see it, hear it, and write it. I also mix this up with group work, presentations, and games. I teach adults who work all day and have children to take care of when they get home, so I attempt to keep their attention as well as minimize the time they need to study outside of my class. When they go home to study, it is simply a review vs trying to study on their own.
I think offering varying instructional styles is important because of the diversity of students and their individual learning abilities. Some students may be able to listen simply to a lecture and retain much of the information without further instruction. However, others may hear the information but do not fully understand it until they see it demonstrated or possibly performing a task by themselves. By varying the instruction method, hopefully you are reaching all of your students in some capacity.
Lori Barnett
James,
Good approach on keeping the students engaged. I teach a 6 hour block course so I understand the challenges you are facing. You do have to wear many different hats and play different roles throughout the course duration. This is how you keep students engaged and focused. Keep up the good work.
Gary
In my opinion different material requires different approaches to delivery. Another big thing is that people change from day to day and hour to hour. A flexible approach to the delivery will help to bring the group into focus as well as add variety to the presentation. The variety will keep the interest up in the topic.
For me the main concern is time. Our classes go for 4 hours with a half hour break in the middle. To keep the attention of the students is a significant challenge. I engage in what is called "edutainment" to keep the students focused. It is important for the students to feel engaged in what they are learning and variety of delivery methods accomplishes this.
I agree. It is good to be versatile and the students will let you know if they don't get the information the way yu are delivering it. And some material is harder and needs to be delivered in more than one way to reach as many of the students as possible.
Valerie,
Variety and change of pace are two very important aspects of effective teaching. Both needs to be included in the planning process.
Gary
It is important to offer a variety of instructional delivery methods to keep the content interesting. This changes up the mode of the class. It makes it open to everyone at some point, because everyone learns differently. It keeps the students on edge, because they can never predict how class will be taught. You want to avoid bordem and keep them intridged and motivated.
Tracy,
You will be amazed at how changes of pace, like the puzzle or create a game using the Jeopardy format really gets the students focused and excited about the course. When you are ready to go back to the lecture they will be ready to concentrate on the content due to the variety you offered them.
Gary
At the start of my first class, I do an assessment to determine the various learning styles of the individual students. I try to develop my methods of instruction around these and limit my lecture time to 20 minutes per session and then do an activity. Keeping students actively engaged is crucial to their success in learning.
I am going to try to do this too. Maybe something simple like a crossword puzzle, or open book question answers in groups will help break up the lecture.
Daniel,
This is an effective way to approach the classroom. By offering variety in learning opportunities you are hitting upon the different learning preferences of your students which will result in a higher level of engagement.
Gary
As there are many different learning styles it is important to offer different ways of teaching to those styles...visual, auditory and kinestetic learners each of them need varied methods to learn and grasp material. I try to teach and incorporate all learning styles in my style.
Kevin,
Good points about instructional planning. Variety and change of pace really helps to keep the students engaged throughout the class sessions.
Gary
There are several reasons an instructor should vary their delivery. First, students learn in different ways. Presenting the materials in a variety of methods insures that those different learning styles are being addressed. Second, it makes the overall class presentation more interesting. Standing in front of a room for two hours delivering a straight forward lecture is not very interesting and, therefore, not likely to get the point across. Finally, as an instructor, I would find it boring to teach by one method only. If I lose interest in the material, what chances does the student have to understand it?
It is important to offer a variety of instructional delivery because people in general learn differently. Providing them with different delivery makes the learning experience more wholesome.
Robin,
Good point instructors need to remember. Stay within the frame of reference of the students as well as the availability of support that can be given.
Gary
