I also have found that the class dynamics determine if I am more "to the point" or more antimated.I have also found that the content of what I am teaching may also dictate my delivery method.
to bore students with same material as book material.
Hi,
I learn by doing, so I think it is important that you find out the different ways that students learn. I handed out a form the second day of my class and ask the students how they learned best. It varied. I rearranged my powerpoints, and start teaching them at the beginning of class and slowed down the pace.
Everybodies ability to learn are different, so it is very important to provide students with different delivery methods and styles .
Receiving a lesson in more than one format may provide a more complete understanding. Like weaving a piece of cloth, if you only go from one direction you only have part of the picture.
Variety engages the student on multiple levels. By pulling in more of their senses, they become more involved and engaged. Even good students have a tough time pressing through the same deliver method for a long period or repeatedly. Variety makes the content and the process of learning more interesting, and successful.
I am an adjunct professor, so my classes are online. This means that the ages can range from 19 years old to 72 years old. I've often had to use different styles of teaching to reach people on different levels, based on how they need to learn AND based on their age. I have had to teach Photoshop to people in their mid-60s who still really dont know how to run Windows properly. It just takes patience and ifferent styles.
Greeetings Victor!
I agree with you, variety is key. As an online instructor I offer struggle with variety. Can you offer any suggestions?
Thanks,
Lendozia
Offering varied instructional delivery keeps the learners engaged. Variety is the key. Even the best instructors can become boring. No one wants steak and lobster every night. Our culture is diverse and as such the classroom is somewhat expected to be diverse as well.
I change it up by moving from lecture to hands on. I'm currently in a class where I have the students working on a mock crime scene. They are using what they learned in my lecture and handouts and are not putting that to practical use. They will be making a sketch of the crime scene, including measurements.
Hi Robert,
What are some of the methods you use to keep your students focused on the material and engaged in the learning process?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Gary
Its impportant to keep your stuednts focused on the subject and topic your are teaching. You should vary your instructional delivery because students learn in different ways. I liketo mix it up because it keeps me focused as well
Hi Lendozia,
Good point about using a number of different delivery methods to engage your students. When their learning preferences are being used their focus increases and this helps expand their learning options.
Gary
As an instructor a variety of instructional delivery methods are important because students learn differently. The goal is student success. As a result, lessons should reflect the learning styles of your class.
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you for sharing this example of working with and appealing to the different learning preferences of students. This is why it is so important for us to vary our instructional delivery.
Gary
You must capture the attention of your class to ensure the optimum success of the students. everyone as a different method of comprehention.
you must keep them interested.
It is important to offer a variety of instructional delivery methods in class in order to appeal to the preferred methods of instruction for your students. I rely on the students to do the chapter reading ahead of the class, and then I usually lecture about the reading. That way, the students get the content delivered twice.
On one occasion, I was not in class and had a substitute teacher in. I tried to make things easy on the substitute by not requiring him to deliver the lecture. Still, the students were required to take the weekly quiz.
One of my best students performed surprisingly poorly on the quiz. Afterwards, the student came up to me and said that he does not learn well by just reading. He said that he needed to hear it, as well. He thought that since he did not hear the lecture on the topic, that contributed to his low quiz score.
After that, I started paying particular attention to varying up my instructional methods (also since I had one overworked student regularly dozing off in class!).
I feel it is important because we are not only working with a diverse group based on age, gender, orientation, political affiliation, and numerous other criteria but also diverse in the basic way that information is understood.
It would be like asking someone to run a marathon that was not physically able to do so. They are equipped to handle any situation differently. By recognizing and adding variety to our teaching method we are able to include every student into the classroom.
Hi Doc,
Changing methodologies gives rhythms to the classroom much like a good play or well constructed music.
Hi Alison,
Thank you for sharing this example of how by listening to feedback an instructor was able to modify the instructional approach to the benefit of the students. Your ability to make a change is now enhancing the learning and application of your students. This is what a true educational professional is all about. Keep up the good work.
Gary
