Selecting instructional strategies for visual learners
What are some instructional strategies to use when working with visual learners?
In my classes before this course, I have handed out the power point lectures so they may follow along. I work really hard at incorporating lots of interesting pictures to break up walls of text. We also go over case studies, which bring about a little bit of reading to find the answers.
Hi Antonio, You are using great strategies for visual learners! Thanks for your post to the forum. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
trying to use as many interactive tools that allowed the students to understand and participate throughout the class. powerpoints, slides and video are some of the tools I like to use the most.
In my classroom I employ a number of strategies which have proven to work for most students. If I have multiple demonstrations, I allow ample time for them to practice on the first one before moving on to the next one.
Since all my classes are tought in the evening and most of my students are working adults, I deliver my demonstrations at the beggining of the class (in the first hour) keeping in mind that students just came from work and they are already tired but their retention level is higher at the beggining of the class than later.
I also allow for students to feel comfortable when seating in the classroom by allowing them to seat closer to me while presenting demos and allowing them to seat on cushioned chairs if they have back problems or such. I feel that students learn better if they are comfortable.
Hi Debbie, Thanks for your post to the forum. I have used assignments that require students to interview people in their career field to get interactivity going. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi:
My question on the forum asked about kinesthetic or hand-ons learners. Since I teach many abstract ideas and concepts like the meaning of equality and liberty or differing visions of constitutional interpretation, hands-on learners like engineers have more troubles as reading, debates, discussion, or lectures don't work as well. Over the years I've had students complain about powerpoint presentations that some more visual students find engaging. In fact one student refered to powerpoint pictures as hi-tech flash cards. In the past some teachers tried using demomstration projects where students "model" writing a constitution. That doesn't and in fact makes matter worse for many students because they need to understand the basic, including the abstract concepts, before attempting constitution building.
Thanks!
Hi Ivan, Thanks for your post to the forum. It really is amazing how so many students graduate from high school without adequate study skills! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Christopher, Thanks for your post to the forum. I really like your idea of using photos of "do and don't" projects! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Including diagrams, mind maps, word webs, visuals, and other forms of graphic organizers will help visual learners get the most from instruction. Students should use highlighters when going through their notes and create flashcards when studying for tests and learning information.
I have found using pictures of previous successful and unsuccessful projects really seems to make the students understand. I show them along with my lecture. Diagrams on the white board also seem to work well.
Hi Kristi, Thanks for your post to the forum. be sure to check out You Tube for some great videos that will also appeal to your visual learners! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Using visual presentations specifically Powerpoints are most effective for visual learners.
Hi Elizabeth, Thanks for sharing some good suggestions for visual learners! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
Susan Polick
Since visual learners like to see things, using a flow chart to explain the steps of a process or incorporating a PowerPoint into a lecture would help them to learn material. They may also enjoy rebus-style activities; for example, teaching the term "gastric" by showing a gasoline truck.
Hi Gretchen, Thanks for your post to the forum. great ideas for visual learners! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
For visual learners, I try to have plenty of pictures throughout my PowerPoint presentations that are relevant to the content. This may either be a picture of the item/topic being discussed or a diagram or chart that shows how 2+ items/topics are related. Also, during the class, I show short video clips of the item/topics to further the learners visual exposure to the content. Lastly, I encourage the students to refer to the text book for extra visuals. I usually do this by saying "Please take a look on p.49 in the text book to see the diagram of a carbon cycle." Then we discuss what we see.
Powerpoint presentations, instructional videos, and demonsrations.
Hi Carl, Thanks for your post to the forum. Since I am a visual learner myself, I really realte to all the resources you mention! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
The visual learn gains knowledge more easily when it is introduced visually. Power point presentations, video presentations, presentations that use diagrams, graphs, charts and the use of blackboards, white board demonstration are applicable to the visual learner
