For me it's all about diversity: Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking.
Incorporating as many of these 4 qualities into every activity is vital in reinforcing the brain pathways during the learning process--giving the material as much and broad a context as possible while making them exercise the content with a maximum of media.
By building rapport with the students, it becomes very evident quickly how they learn differently. Knowing this, we can plan on having multiple approaches to the same information.
My first step was realizing that the course sylabus and course contents were two indepedent things. While the sylabus was developed with the course content in mind, it doesnt define teh course content.
In observing others teaching style, you can see how important it is to use options for learning styles, to reach your students. When a student is not engaged in connecting with the subject, it is clear in their body language and attention to what is being taught. Shadowing others, even makes this point of accomondating to learning preferences, more clear.
Strategies that I have implemented for making course content relevant and applicable to the learning needs of students is by providing real life situations and examples. I find that when students understand the why and how, they grasp the material much better and are able to recall what they have learned.
Its all about reinforcement of the material through student centered, project based learning.
I try to make early assessments of the different learning styles and thenm incorporate various styles in each class session. I often give learners with atypical learning styles greater opportunities to share with their peers.
Teaching in the evening has taught me the importance of student engagement. Most of my adult students have jobs and families; I use powerpoints, current events articles and games that correspond to the lecture and group activities to help.
Taking good notes,participating in class be focused on the class and many other ways.
Giving them relevancy and tell them where and when they would be using the information they are learning
Cynthia,
Good to hear about your teaching strategies that have been successful. This is good information for other instructors to have as they do their instructional planning.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
The saying "Different strokes for different folks" is so true. Knowing how your students effectively learn is so very important. I can explain how to write something for one student and they will grasp the concept immediately. And, yet, other students I will physically show them on their machines how it is written. It then sinks in both visually and hands on. End result, everyone learns. It helps also for me to walk around the room and checking with students as to how they're doing with a concept I've just explained, should they need additional instruction.
I use as many different learning styles as possible. In the medical field, there are a lot
of theories to learn, but they can be demonstrated by learning to use equipment as well as with mini
lectures. This has been very successful.
Astrid,
Sounds like a good plan for keeping your students engaged and focused on the content. This way they are gaining different ways of integrating the cognitive material.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Zekrayat,
You are able to show students application and relevancy once they have covered the content in the lecture part as they move to lab and this greatly enhances cognitive retention.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Stephanie,
This is a good way to work through the format for your students. You are offering variety and different learning preference venues for your students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I take the first few classes and really focus on evaluating every student's learning style. I may start with a lecture and see how many students daze off. This process never really stops since I am always aware if students need a different teaching style. I have found with the courses I teach demonstration is very effective.
The strategy of adding media links and other visuals are relevant course content I have used in the many courses in order to enhance my teaching approach.
i teach obstetrics.. i do return demonstrations and actual realistic structural guidelines relevant to my course content which makes my students eager to learn more and you can visualize it in their manners and eagerness to attend my class..
Astrid
It is very challenging to accomodate the various learning styles but I try to figure out what works for each student based on their performance and that works. In other words some may need extra tutoring time while others can resolve their challenges with class activities.
