Understanding Diverse Learners
Instructors need to make themselves available to gain understanting of the diverse learner. Establishing office or extra hours so the student can gain confidence with the instructor eases tensions during class time.
What are some ways you can learn about the needs of diverse learners?
Hi Lori!
It definitely helps that you are an ESL teacher as most instructors are not trained to recognize or deal with many special needs. In my classes, I treat the entire class as though we all have special needs. I don't mean I dumb down information but use color, highlight information for added focus, provide activities from which I think all students will benefit. Then those that are more challenged are easier to recognize if they have difficulty with this approach.
Do you have some suggestions that you would like to share that could those of us who don't have the same background/training that you have?
Thanks and keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I usually have both groups that you mentioned in my classes. It helps that I am an ESL teacher for the local high school as well and have already established myself with some of the students. You need find out what they know and work from there.
I ask for bios. The first night of class I encourage each student to to tell the class about themselves. You would be surprised as to how much information I can gather through this process.
At my school we practice methodoligies as taught by Dave Myer's Accelerated Learning program. It is a program that utilizes the S.A.V.I (Somatic,Auditory,Visual,Intellectual) approach for diverse learners. Though there are many tests and methodoligies out there that are similiar, it is a great program. There is a nice activity that will have the student measure there own degree off blended learning. If the student understands this they can actually "help" the Instructor to teach them better.
Hi Deborah!
I, too, have taught Human Resources and usually started with these types of exercises. I'm a firm believer that to be successful in all areas of life we MUST be able to understand AND tolerate the differences in people. Students are very intrigued by this information.
Good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I teach a human resources management course and one of the assignments is to research the different generations: Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, and the Millenials. It is fascinating how different each generation is. They each view work differently and are motivated by different things.
My standard practice is to have students introduce themselves to me and the class by telling me why they chose massage as a course of study. This usually gives me some basis on which I can relate personally to that student. If they already have one or two quarters behind them I can go on with questions about their expectations and whether those expectations have been met or not.
My biggest challenges so far have to do with age related differences. Many younger students require much more guidence and patience than the older ones. The key is communication.
Greetings Bonnie!
It's like so many other things that we do as instructors - it's about good communication skills!
Goodjob!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I usually do ice breaker activities at the beginning of every class to help everyone learn that students have different learning styles. One activity that I do is to read a short passage to the class and ask them to write down a certain word or words (such as words beginning with s and t). Then I read the passage starting slowly then pick up speed to end reading very quickly. I then ask them content questions that very few can answer because of the focus on specific words. This gives them an idea of what it might be like for a fellow student who has attentional difficulties, language barriers or reading difficulties. Just because you can not see an area of difficulty doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Everyone really likes this activity.
Salma,
Great job on your post and mentioning age in your post about diversity. I tend to forget age as a diverse aspect but we can see the generation gap in many community colleges. I agree you have to use real world experience and be open to different learning techniques and interaction.
Hello Jay,
Diversity is a great opportunity for an instructor to apply real world applications. I try to remind classes that many times our classrooms are a great reflection of the workplace. So we should be open to others learning process and ways to communicate. I try to open the course with students expressing themselves with an introduction and this is also a great time to express culture communication as well. Knowledge is power in this case and using your observation skills and being empathetic is important.
Thanks,
Nick
We have a diverse population in our school. Students of all ages and backgrounds. I find it helpful for students to share their experiences as it enhances knowledge learned in the classroom. Students will be working with people of different backgrounds, so sharing their experiences allows others to see different perspectives
Use different types of learning techniques. Get feedback from the student to help them and myself to understand each other better. And therefore the student learns better.
I agree we can learn from them, my friend just recently told me about her struggles with dixlexia, how she graduated from school with a diploma and very low grades in school. as she began reading I understood there were certain words she could'nt read or break the word down so, I began to break the words down in syllibles for her and had her repeat the word then I gave the definition of the word.It appeared we were helping each other.
By observing them as an interactive lecture or activity is progressing.
it is always very importent that to should check if every body have understand the subject and you may asked the slow students to repeat what was said of ask questionts to see how much those slow learner have digested the subject
In the educational field, specific language has been developed to help professionals understand and describe certain features that factor strongly into students' lives and identities, and that may influence the approaches to instruction (and interaction) which teachers choose. It may seem that the "labels" are always changing, but these frequent adjustments reflect new knowledge about young peoples' needs and experiences. A young person's skill at reading, writing, listening and speaking has a great impact on the life chances that are available to him or her, and it is therefore essential that teachers find a way to give students a strong foundation in these areas and confidence in their ability to succeed.
