Understanding how the brain works can help to remind and instructor how inportant it is to use multiple teaching techniques and approaches for better comprehension and to cover the spectrum of learners in the classroom. Undestanding that comprehesion and recall are increased by performing the task rather than just talking about it would indicate that demonstrations should be followed by guided practice whenever possible.
The information I have gained about the learning abilities of the brain will be invaluable to me as I prepare lessons for my students. I especially will want to present information in a way that can counteract any possible negative episodes in their learning process.
ow I present information will detrermine how it is stored and orgfanized.
By understanding the different ways a student learns we can adapt our teaching methods to benefit each of the students. I try to incorporate lecture materials and then reinforce them with some sort of hands on experience. I find that by doing this my students retain more information for longer periods of time.
It reinforces what I have always believed in which is how we all need a variety of methods of learning introduced in the classroom to learn and retain the information. I purposely use exercises that benefit long term memory as well as short term memory, and the sense of hearing.
Hi Naima,
Right you are. By having this foundation you can create learning scaffolds upon which the students can build a strong knowledge base and skill sets.
Gary
Agree with Sharon. Instructors should utilize variety of methods to address students with different learning styles.
Understanding how brain functions is one think, it is also to remember that regardless how brain functions students would having different learning styles. Some would prefer visual more than auditoria and/or vice-versa. Instructors should adapt/perform teaching methods toward verity o f learning styles so all the students would be benefiting during learning experience.
understanding the basics of learning will help me as an instructor because I'm now able to know how my students feel in class especialy the ones with negative experiences from previous classes.
you must understand the basics of learning before you can deliver information in a way that others can retain and learn from.
I would like to incorporate more hands-on learning, since the retention rate is so much higher, but that is difficult to accomplish due to the fundamentals that must be grasped first in a very limited time frame. The most feasible way to adapt my instructional strategy would be to introduce more visual information since it has the second highest retention rate.
I think understanding the basics of learning types and brain functioning provides an impetus to vary your educational methods. For example, if students need to remember a list of specific information or facts (typically more logical, left-brained thinking), have them create mind maps/webs or other visual, spatial representations of the material (perhaps using different shapes and colors). Not only are they forced to use both sides of their brain, building new neural connections, but they're that much more likely to absorb the information.
Just realizing that we all learn and process material in different ways helps me to realize that different students may need the material presented in different ways. I try to haveat least 2 ways to present the same material as well as an activity related to the material as another way to learn.
Hi Kimberlee,
This is a good way to increase content retention. Also I am sure the students were more engaged as a result of role playing you all did. Great way to make the course come alive while the students get to see what they will be facing upon graduation.
Gary
I found it successful with my students to lecture has we apply it to their future career. I was the patient and I kept changing outcomes and teaching them how you assess and apply their knowledge. They get the opportunity to review what they have learned and apply it and build on a foundation. I find they retain these lectures more than just lecturing and reviewing in verbal scenarios.
Hi Eric,
Well said. The key as you mention is the integration of technology, activities and relevant content to the total teaching process. By continually improving on how this is done instructors will be able to be more effective in their instructional delivery and student outcomes.
Gary
Hi Gary
Instructional strategies determine the approach a teacher way take to achieve learning objectives, teacher need to unlock the secrets to developing a curriculum that meets the learning needs of different types of students, create a cross-curricular unit that integrates technology to support learning and plan lesson that address the different ways that your students learn.
Eric
Hi John,
You make a good point about needing to help students in both the concrete and abstract learning areas. The more we help our students develop their problem solving and critical thinking skills the more satisfaction they are going to have in their careers, especially in a creative area like culinary arts.
Gary
I see the value of using both concrete and abstract application in my teaching of culinary arts. My students might need to know not only the steps to create a dish but also the abstract thinking required to give it their own personal touch.
Hi Robert,
Thank you for sharing your comprehensive plan of learning for your students. You are hitting on the key elements as them move from theory to application. Throughout these steps they are being reinforced so they can get the content into their working memories while developing skills sets that will help with retention. You are in a great field for this to happen because you are bringing in so many different elements for their learning focus.
Gary
Dr. Meers,
I truly think that understanding the "process" of learning and the mind's ability to change and develop due to certain factors, such as environmental, physical, educational access, peer influence, family factors and genetic factors,all are major concerns that we need to consider when we formulate ideas about our students and how we formulate our daily teaching plans. Knowing also how the brain develops over the first 25 years of development, and how it perceives information is key to a students understanding and retention of material. Teaching in the culinary arts field, allows me to lecture, present power point presentations, and finish my teaching plan with a manual demonstration and formulation of a recipe or platter presentation. Knowing that the brain in a 24 hour period can retain 70% of tactile learning experiences is great for my formulation of daily teaching plans. "Hands on" teaching works for me, and the students finally realize that they can take this learning experience we do today to future job endeavors. Knowing how the brain works in the "procass" of learning helps and assists both the studen and the teacher.
