Once we identified the learning preference of our students, we have to adjust our teaching style to their necessities using effective intructional strategies.
Hi Garry,
I am wondering during your homework assessments, do you all assign reading assignments to help with reading comprehension? Here at the institution I teach at, although we do use more media, discussion and hands on methods, homework is where the reading comes in at and then everything that is done in the class stems from the reading using other learning styles.
Jackie
Well in order to be an effective teacher, you must ensure that all your students are comprehending the information you are presenting-otherwise there is no purpose to you being there.
Since you want to ensure your students are actually learning you must make sure you are using a variety of modalities to hit everyone's learning style. When you do this, your classes will be more engaging and students will get more out the classes than initially anticipated and so will you.
Jackie
Of course our job is to deliver material to the learners. Making sure that they recieve the imformation and comprehend it, it is very important that its delivered so that all are able to do so. I feel that smart boards are a great tool that allows the instructor to cover all areas effectively.
everyone learns differently so this will provide the variety for students to learn in many different ways
It is important because otherwise they will not take in the information and may not excel in the class. It will only hinder them.
So that each student may have a variety of methods to learn.
It is important to provide varied approaches so you can address each and every student's learning style during the course. Since each individual has a different learning style, an instructor can reach the maximun number of students by varying approaches. This wil also keep the course exciting and engaging for the students.
Hi Helen - Teaching till 11 p.m. is indeed very challenging. Not only must you be tired but your students as well. Susan
we are also a technicial school all 4 teaching styles need to be applied for learning, especially clinical and when you teach till 11 pm got to mix things up to keep people alert and awake.
As I am an instructor for a radiology class,a majority of my students are visual learners. I have found using multimedia powerpoint presentations, with associated handouts, allow the students to absorb the materials on several levels without focusing on any one type of learner. Students will often give body language clues (yawning, fidgeting in seat, etc.) when I start to lose them. I try to be aware of these clues and use that as a sign that it's time to mix it up.
I teach Massage Therapy at a Technical College and have mostly students who are "hands on" learners. I do , however, have many students who are visual, auditory, and written word learners as well. I try to use handouts along with power points and when giving a lecture. I write examples on the board and of course we do a lot of hands on work in class. Even though a lot of what we do in class is hands on we still have written projects and reading assignments for students as well. I think it is a pretty well rounded environment for our many different learning styles.
Hi Susan - thanks for your post to the forum. I would not give students a comprehensive study guide because it can seem overwhelmimg. Instead, I would give a study guide for perhaps each chapter or each weeks' content and tie quizzes to that study guide. What exactly are your students complaining about? Susan
I also give out a study guide, but mine is in the form if an outline. It covers everything in the chapters that we will cover. My problem is my students will not use it, they would rather be "spoon fed" than even look at the outlines for the course. We also do hands on and I use overheads for diagrams, but I still have 1/2 of the students complaining. Any suggestions!!!!!
If you provide the approach and the resources it gives them a greater chance of success.
I try to keep students engaged in the course material. It is critical to their success and most of them know this. Using delivery methods that implement a variety of learning styles keeps the class interesting to those students with differerent learning styles.
The whole point of the class is for your students to retain the information you give them to be successful out in the field. Eventually these students will be graduating and working in the field and you want them to be knowledgable!
It is very important to support the learning styles of our students espcially in a career college where I am working because this is one of the best way to achieve the learning goals and passing exams. The fact that our programs are accelarated, any teacher would like to see students effectly learn their courses.
H Karne - Thank the heavens for all the advance info you receive about your students - most instructors are not so lucky! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan
All of my students have taken a prerequisite course called College Success where they take all different kinds of learning style inventories. Then I try to use that information in my course. The first day of class I have them fill out an information sheet that asks specific questions about their strengths and weaknesses in learning. After class I review all of the students sheets and alter my instrucional methods to better fit this group of students. However, my daily classroom content always incorporates auditory, written, visual and kinesthetic activities.
