Greetings Pam!
Unless an instructor has the "special needs" credentials that come from education and experience, I believe most of us are at a disadvantage. I do feel, however, that there are strategies which we can take that will help every student in the class. I've mentioned those things in the past - bold print, colored paper, highlighted boxes, reenforcing lecture topics in unique ways, putting students together as "study buddies".
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Sometimes just asking the student what they need is pretty helpful. But another idea is to look in to asking people who specialize in working with those specific learning challenges that your students possess.
Openness and interactions with students allows one to gain insight about their fears, needs, challenges, and the experiences that they bring to the class. Communication, in a two way manner, is most important. It need not be long, but must be sincere.
Checking for learning and/or difficulties on a routine basis can help to determine not only the issues the students in general are having but can also help give you insight to each student's abilities and problem areas. Once those specific students and/or problem areas are identified you can try to have a private conversation in order to get to know the student's goals and also how you can help to make the topics more easily understood. The more insight you gain from each student on their specific problem areas the more you can learn how to be preventitive in delivering the material in ways that everyone can benefit.
The best way is to talk to them as a part of monitoring their progress. many people appreciate the opportunity to talk about where they are from and what they've experienced. From these conversations you can tune into how they learn and what their strengths and weaknesses might be.
Hi Julie!
I always have to remind myself not to enable students but empower them!
Keep up the good workS
jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
In just talking with them engage them in conversation about themselves.
right. we can make ourselves available and offer extra time to these students. we can also learn from them.
To learn and understand the needs of diverse learners, I would try the following:
1) Give them a chance in the first class to introduce themselves.
2) ask students to complete an information sheet about their interests, weaknesses, etc
3) Making it easier for students to stop by my office for any concern to discuss with me
4) Scheduling a fixed tutoring time in the library where students can stop by and get some help to address difficult issues in their assignments.
5) Even though instructions to class are general and apply to every student, I may give an extra attention to some students who have language difficulty or other challenges.
6) Finally, never single any student out or make them uncomfortable about their diversity.
The best way to learn about the needs of diverse learners is to ask. Learners will explain clearly how they best learn. Some students are visual learners, others learn best by doing or hearing. Learners are different and have different learning styles so instructors must not place all learners in one category.
Get to know your students. Pre-test or diagnostic test might identify problems. Talk to students about their experiences. Use ice-breaker that might indicate key things about the students. Maybe even a brief questionnaire that asks questions that encourage student to reveal concerns about reading, writing. Can even state these questions aloud.
I like this idea. I think it will be good to let the students introduce themselves at the very first day. Everyone can discuss their individual backgrounds and future goals. I try to apply this idea in my classroom
It might sound like a cart-before-the-horse response, but I think that carefully analyzing one's successes can point to the strategies that led to that success - and part of that is likely (if not inevitably) to be that you presented the material in ways that the diverse learner needed.
Without advanced education theory an instructor may not know immediately how to do this, but if the instructor pays close attention to the successes, he/she will start to pick up on the strategies and techniques that work with various learning styles and learning needs.
When teaching grammar, for instance, I tell students that it's good to answer a question correctly - but I want them to also explain *why* they're right, so they can learn to apply the same reasoning to similar questions and, eventually, to seemingly unrelated questions.
And I try to hold myself to the same standard - it's not enough to me that I am successful with my students - I also want to know *why* I am successful, so I can repeat those techniques with other students in the future.
Hi Eileen!
All great ideas! What asseaament tool do you use?
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
At the beginning of the class, some sort of baseline assessment will help the instructor understand what he/she needs to do in order to provide a successful learning environment. Getting to know each student, if possible, will also help the instructor. Understanding their life experiences will provide the instructor with information to build upon for the student to achieve success.
There ae a number of ways to learn about the needs of diverse learners. By paying close attention to the way they react to lectures and giving assessments to test their knowledge.
Getting to know each learner is important. I had an adult student who stopped coming when we had quizzes and here he was embarassed because he took longer to take them and felt he was holding up the class. After the 2nd missed quiz, I had a 5 minute discussion after class and he confided in me. Now, I give my quizzes at the end of class so he doesn't feel as if he is holding anyone up.
I agree that some learners need more time to competence new information and answer questions. Also I find out that diverse learners need more personal attention of a teacher. Many of them need to be taught one on one with the teacher. So, I suggest them tutoring. Usually it helps them a lot.
I have office hours where the students can schedule an appointment. That way I can be alone with them so they don't feel like other students are listeneing to the conversation and they can explain the problem and then I usually ask them what has helped in the past. I assure them that I have had learning issues and I know some tricks that I have used and have been really helpful to me.It is important, paticularly to older students to have this conversation privately.
What a great example of building a class culture made up of a variety of cultures!
Ryan
