I teach Online, but I still use many of the 'tools' in this module. I try to instill a relax atmosphere by playing music before the class offically starts. In my chat presentations, I utilize PowerPoints - using colors not only in the background but text. They, I think, excite the mind and focus attention of what is displayed and what I say.
Roberto,
yes the more variety we can add in the way of visual aids or activities, the more engaged our students will be.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Students learn in different ways and it's a good idea to use different methods to improve student learning. Students do not want to just sit there and listen to someone go on and on about a subject. Using different types of visual aids so they can picture what you're talking about will help the students understand the material better.
Florita,
these are all great ideas & I'm thrilled to know you gleaned a lot of learning from the course. Best wishes on incorporating these concepts into your course.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Jan,
I think you demonstrate the qualities of a good teacher by considering these aspects. The only suggestion I would have is if you have a smaller class where you can check with all of the students to see if any are allergic & then you won't have to use such a large quantity. Best wishes.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Hi Dr. Meers, I liked the idea of Dr Hideo Seki incorporating music with his course, as music used in a good way, creates relaxation and tranquility with a person. Some people study very well with musc, others need to have complete silence, but soft music in the background may hardly be noticeable.
To improve the learning environment, the use of color, visuals, seating, creative supplies and music contribute to the learner's success of learning in severl ways. With regard to color, I would hand students paper and markers, and have them jot down the emotion they associate with each color. I then would eliminate colors, which make students feel stressed, depressed, or angry and decorate the room with colors, contributing to students' relaxation and calmness, and happiness.
With regard to seating-if the room is big enough that students can freely move around, I would place the chairs and tables so students face one another, and at the same time the instructor and the blackboard. The chairs would be arranged in a u-or square shape with the instructor's desk at the front of the class.
With regard to equipmemnt and supplies, there are often students who need a pecil or pen to write, specific at exam day. so I carry a couple of pens and pencils with me. I also often use the projector, to go over powerpoints or teach Dental charting or Periodontal probing, which is measurement of the space between the tooth and gum, which determines the health of the gum.
I think it is good to give all students the empowerment to come in front of class and do the charting via the overhead, so all students can follow along. This way students have a bit a feel of standing in front of the class and being the one having a bit of a lead with their classmates.
And as I already mentioned about music, I think it is great that it can be used in the classroom without distracting the student from learning.
Ariana,
these are all great ideas & strategies that helps a wide variety of learners.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Interesting and exciting concepts for aiding learners. Just wondering how you would introduce scents into the classroom? Burning any material would not be allowed in our facility. Utilizing oils might work, but you would need a huge amount to infuse the larger classrooms. Also, there is the consideration of those students who might have medical conditions such as asthma who may be sensitive to sprays, oils or particular scents. I would like to use this idea, but these concerns would keep me from trying it out.
I have used music in the classroom to set the tone at the beginning of class. I felt that the music put the students in a positive state of mind and put them in a mood receptive to learning. I will work with seating at the start of the 2012 classes. Some good tips were provided about seating arrangements.
I love teaching, my way of teaching is to engage the student in the learning environment, I communicate with them as well as stimulate the senses of the learner to reinfoce the information. I also incorporate visual, and tactile in my learning environment.
I used bright color on my students seat (different spring colors). I play soft music during nap time(also, use music for therapy. I use informative poster (educational and fun). I use color flowers to bright up my desk. I love to make my room happy.
I teach online and there is one area where some of these techniques would be useful. Anytime that I teach online I would use PowerPoint. I tend to use color in these presentations. Have not tried music though because I have not spent time figuring out the technology and how to incorporate music. It would be interesting to try.
I let my students listen to there choice of music when they are working individually on fabricating temporary crowns, they work more pleasant
I have used snacks to discuss special senses. I have used music to practive various muscle movements. I brought material to have my students build a muscle layer by layer. I also had my students make Valentine's cards using medical terminology terms they learned in class.
Color:
Daily objectives written on board - use different colors for student participation activities;visuals: hand created posters for examples of concepts being taught; creative supplies: on study guides(when we go over them in class) have students use different colored markers for quiz questions, will use in lesson, must know for activity, etc.; music: I agree with this in principle - I will have to experiment.
Tom,
I think this shape is one of the best options. It definitely allows for greater discussion & does put me, as the instructor, closer to the students.
Dr. Ryan Meers
We had rows of long tables facing the front of the classroom. It felt alienating for me, and tended to cut off those students sitting furthest from the front and middle of the classroom. They also faced the backs of each other's heads. I rearranged the tables in a rough U shape, which meant everyone faced each other, and I was able to move around the middle, easily interacting with the entire class.
All these tactics can address the strategy to relax, engage & focus the student on the material to be learned. They can also be used to enhance different cognitive learning styles.
Using music to improve the learning environment works!! In my clinical labs, I use music to simply relax an already intense environment.. played softly, and having students select and agree on content certainly helps them feel less observed..
Troy,
you make some great points here. I agree that while these techniques provide some good ideas we, as the instructor, must analyze our individual classes & make the decisions that work the best for them.
Dr. Ryan Meers
