Abstract Concepts and Theories
Some students are great at memorizing facts, but they have difficulty with abstract theories. I try to use examples to illustrate how "X" concept has practical applications. What are some other ways to help students use critical thinking skills and experience to solve abstract questions?
William,
I think you will like the results you get from having your students develop these commercials. They are fun and you will see some very creative work come from the students. You are right on about them remembering the concepts as a results of the commercials. They do!
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I teach Basic Electrical at a career school for Automotive. The hardest is to get the abstract concepts through to them. I really like the idea of teams to develop "commercials" idea.
I can see how that could help them to remember the important concepts.
Nancy,
This is a very creative approach to getting the students engaged in learning while becoming a part of the instructional process. I bet you get some real exciting headlines about different diseases. Sounds like a fun assignment.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I agree taht students like to work in groups and be creative with concrete information they are given in a lecture. I ask students to act as news reporters for aa disease and to produce a headline report for a local news realease and they enjoy the assignment.
Bret,
Try to come up with games, activities and/or case studies that reinforce the concrete aspects of abstract concepts. Set up situations where the students "test" the abstract concepts in ways that enable them to see the relevance of what is being taught. Create learning teams that develop "commercials" about the application of abstract concepts. My students love this activity because they get to be creative, have fun but still learn how to use the abstract content in a concrete way.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
