Donna,
How do you incorporate different learning styles into your lectures? Your post briefly describes visual (demos) and hands-on (students practicing).
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
We have a weekly demonstration followed by students practicing this demo multiple times in the week, with faculty guidance, and critique of the procedure each time. Then by the end of the week, the students will be tested on the demo they learned without help.
Jeff,
You probably find some students learn through a mix of these approaches.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Nicole,
I should note that students retain 90% of what they learn when teaching each other. You can take note that the Extern students are probably exhibiting this.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I try to set up several different ways to accomplish the labs. Books for the students that like to research before starting. Video of instructors performing the task for students that prefer visual learning. For the hands on students I like for them to write down the steps they think they are going to follow so people and training aids don't get damaged.
I am fortunate this term to have a few externs in my lab class. They really like to share their knowledge. It gives them a sense of pride. I do not want the students to feel they are being taught only by externs and that I am not doing my job so I am right by their side to validate what they say and the procedures they are doing. My classes are small and everyone knows everyone but if I get a feeling from someone that they are uncomfortable I will work with them more one on one. That is the advantage I have with such small classes.
David,
Yes, you are using several different delivery modes. Do you have the students long enough or often enough to see how each student best learns? Who learns better by listening (lecture)? Seeing (demos, videos)? Doing (hands on)? Or are you seeing how students mix these in his or her learning?
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Due to the wide range of ages and backgrounds in class, I use many different types of learning styles. Lecture, demos, videos, and hands on lab are just a few styles that take place in class. I have found the more ways you can explain something to the students the better they will understand the topic.
Neil,
The group setting and real world focus helps to address learning styles.
Ed
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Diana,
It has been a practice of mine lately to encouraging people to focus on achieving the student outcomes over covering the material. In this way we provide a more learner centered environment.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I use several steps to ensure I address individual learning style. First I give and explanation, demonstration and require practical application. Then I set the classroom/ lab environment to reflect the workplace for the subject and require the class to operate as a functioning "for profit" organization. Finally I require the student work out challenges together and only after the group is unable to resolve these challenges should they seek my input.
I do try to accommodate multiple learning styles but find I get bogged down at times when given and inordinate amount of material to cover in a limited time period.
Antonio,
This supplements your on-ground courses? More and more we will see this integration of online and on-ground.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I have web base courses available , class room lectures broken down in highlighted paragraphs and also a lot of hands on activities
Thomas,
Also include group activities. Pairs, trios, or up to 5 in a group helps. Students assist each other and complement learning styles.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I also have a wide range of age groups and learning styles in my class that I have to be able to instruct to. We use Powerpoint, lectures, Video's and Demonstrations to teach our classes and the multiple learning styles.
Kelly,
This probably directs questions to the how and why more than the what.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Marvin,
Real world experience supports what they learn greatly.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Asking questions as the students preform their labs to make sure they understand what they are doing and what it should be.
Due to the variety of different learning styles we see on a day to day I have learned to use personal experiences to validate the educational information in the power point lecture, while performing demos, during lab as well as any open discussions we might have. This seems to help them absorb the curriculum by giving them relevance to their new career path.
