Hi Michael, Thanks for your post to the forum. You are using some great learning strategies for visual learners! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I use a threefold strategy for visual learners: the board, visuals (PowerPoint, videos, etc.) and handouts.
Writing on the board indicates and important point for students to remember, using visuals lets the student learn by seeing and handouts let the student carry the visuals away for future reference.
Hi Eric, Thanks for your post to the forum. I agree PPTs can be DEADLY! However, as you mention, if we are creative and use humor, videos etc. they are terrific! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
Susan Polick
I try to not use PowerPoints, however I find that if I create them with course material as wells as some none course content slides that have a bit of humor makes the presentation much easier to take. Also the class looks forward to them.
Hi Lawrence, Thanks for your post to the forum. You are using some active learning stratgies in your classroom! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
This is probably my favorite instructional strategy. I like videos in DVD or digital format to put what the topic of the day in prespective. If the media is powerful enough I like to see some emotion (laugh, a tear, intently watching) from my students as this is a good indicator they have bought into the concepts and ideas of the media. I find students tend to hold on to concepts and information better when there is an idea they can relate to.
Field trips is also a very visual learning tool. I have my students prepare, prior to our departure, a list of questions they would like to ask the facilitator. This lets them buy into the venue and get those critical thinking caps on.
Our students today all tend to have a percentage of visual learner in them because of technolgy (smart phones, tablets, HD TV, etc.)
When using my powerpoint slides I like to change up the colors or put instructional videos in the lecture to keep visual learners interested. I work at a career college. We have our students watch demonstrations then we have the students practice (hands on) what they saw.
Hi Marla, Thanks for your post to the forum. you are using your PPTs very effectively to reach the diverse learning styles! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I like to use powerpoint presentations as well as diagrams/handouts. If applicable I have the students draw or label items to help in retaining information. This not only applies to the visual learner, but the kinesthetic learner as well. As I am lecturing I hit the auditory learner and the written learner is reached by reading the powerpoint and taking the notes. I guess I can hit all learning styles successfully with a powerpoint presentation.
Hi Tim, Thanks for your post to the forum. Even for learners who may not prefer visual, breaking up ppts with some visually enhanced slides is a good practice! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I am currently teaching anatomy and physiology. I like to use pictures, diagrams, videos and models to help show my visual learners what we are lecturing about.
I teach environmental science so much of the material can be presented as images or supported with images. I try to follow a text/information slide with some slide illustrating that information. For example, after making some points about air pollution I may show slides showing different types &/or sources of information - smokestacks, cars, smog, etc.
Hi Patricia, Thanks for your post to the forum and for sharing some great ideas for delivery to all the learning styles. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I always try to include a picture per slide when showing powerpoints. Hopefully the explanation attaches itself to the picture in the brain and makes an image to refer back to. The auditory learner hears the words while the picture explains the message for visual learners. A week or so later I will give the students some Play Doh or markers to illustrate a concept they have previously learned.
Hi Daniel, All great activites for our visual learners! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
As an automotive technical instructor I find it beneficial when explaining a procedure to write on the board key steps as I go. In my classroom the Power Point projector is displayed right on the whiteboard so I often "enhance" a slide with a marker to show a function, movement, etc...
I like using everything from powerpoint presentations to role playing to keep the visual learner involved. We as instructors are competing with video games and TV to keep our visual learners involved with class,
Hi Michael, Thanks for your post to the forum. You shared a very good suggestion for visual learners! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Encourage students to spend time focusing on the figures and diagrams included in the textbook. Students who don't have high reading comprehension ability can also benefit from this reading strategy.
Include photos, diagrams, pictures, power point presentations, charts, utube or video clips, timelines, mnemonics. Use handouts and/or overhead projectors when explaining material.
