Working outside the comfort zone
Our primary or preferred methods of learning are comfortable for us. We all have multiple intellegences and we have those that we use and rely on more frequently than the others. However, as educators, we should be taking our students outside their comfort zone of learning. The only way for someone to increase the areas that are not their strongest is to apply them.
It is important to offer variety in teaching methods, but only delivering information in a student's preferred method does not teach them to find new ways to learn
Allen,
Yes, they do. You make a good point in relation to the instructor and how he or she should approach the classroom. They need to be flexible in their planning and delivery so they can touch upon the different learning preferences of their students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The student as well as the instructor need to adapt to the differant learning styles in order to get the most out of a given class.The content,as well as the presenter of the information vary,so we all work together to learn from each other.
I agree with your point in the real working environment. We all have to be able to adapt to the new working environment and learn outside our comfort zone. By adapting to different new learning preferences we can develop different ways in processing information.
Christy,
This is a good strategy to follow. Your students get to experience real samples of what can go wrong in taste, texture and appearance if you do not have the basics down as a chef. These are graphic visual reminders of why they have to do it right each and every time. If they don't they may be using their skills on the grill at a fast food place very shortly.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I have the same concern with many of my pastry students. They want to create (and eat) but don't always see the benefit of learning the hows and whys of baking. I know try to purposely make small mistakes on some items so that I can actually show them the result of not following through on all steps. This helps with grading also, because they are keyed into the idea that I am aware of what certain mistakes will yield in their pastries.
Thomas,
The knowledge retention level of students that work through these problem solving and trial and error situations is going to be much higher since they worked so hard to get the content. This is a valuable learning tool for everyone.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
A majority of my students have little to no experiance in the subject that we study and it can be very difficult to teach them a particular skill set. Through trial and error my student as well as myself will work a problem at many different angles until we come up with a solution to the problem. This method of trial and error can be frustrating but as long I can keep my student(s) focused and motivated we all benifit and now have real working experiance.
I agree, it is important to learn outside your comfort zone. As instructors,sometime we also have to work outside our comfort zone but by doing so, we can strenghten our weak areas of expertice & learn new things along the way.
Donna,
The students need this type of exposure because they are going to encounter different types of workers as well as situations when they are out in the workforce. The more exposure they have to these different situations the better prepared they will be.
Gary
Working in a variety of methods will hopefully stretch students' abilities to use various kinds of intelligences and strengthen them so the person is able to work in various modes.
Theodore,
This is why the develop of critical thinking skills is so important. Many of us have worked the majority of our careers outside of our comfort zones as a result of the field that we were in. I know the majority of my work was problem solving situations that needed solutions right away. If we can help our students to develop such skills they will be more successful in their careers.
Gary
I feel that we first have to become aware of the dominant intelligences of the students in the class. We should then tailor our instruction to complement their dominant intelligences. There are also benefits of taking them out or their comfort zones. Challenges can aid students with the learning process.
I agree that we should be taking students outside of their comfort zone but we also must include their preferred method of learning so as to not totally disillusion the student. For example a student who is already outside of his comfort zone just by taking a chemistry class, will have an extemely difficult time if forced to only learn material in yet another manner. This student must also be made comfortable emotionally by allowing him to learn from within his comfort zone first and then he can stretch and learn from outside of it. To do otherwise would loose the student.
Hi Eric,
Good point and one that is very important to the learning process. Students need to see how they can approach the content in different ways in order to get the information they need for career success.
Gary
I aggree working outside the zone can sometimes get us to connect with someone in such a way that as students they feel they are learning I also agree that trying to taining aids leads towards positive learing no matter what subject you are covering as a instructer.
Hi Melanie,
Good way to see if the students are absorbing the new content as well as learning if they can make application of that content.
Gary
yes I agree we need to challenge them more and get them ready for what's actually out there. for example I like to give a lot of verbal instructions, and recap at the end of the day . At that time i find out who is listening and who was not paying any attention.
-Melanie
I agree that we should challenge our students to look at other ways of learning information. We have the ability to expose them to other methods,but some students have not discovered a preferred style of learning.
That's true and that's why I experiment with various approaches and methods until I find something which fits most of the students. Still, we need to be able to teach each of them, no matter how quick or slow learners they are.
