I agree repetition in various manners is very helpful in retention.However be careful to keep it fun & not to become redundant. J.P.
I also combine visual examples and repetition to assist the student in retaining the course information. The visuals vary depending on the course taught. Teaching textiles is a challenge because the students must learn a course specific vocabulary while engaging their tactile and visual senses. It this course, I use a swatch book, charts and large pieces of fabric. I use a building block repetition technique and create an expanding chart to make sure the students know the vocabulary. At the beginning of each class, I review the vocabulary chart from the previous classes. I then add a few more vocabulary blocks to the chart. The students can immediately see the connection to the original vocabulary blocks and have reviewed and increased the material every class.
I work in very much the same fashion. In my classes we do a hands-on lecture where the students are doing the work on the software with me as mine is projected on a screen for them. We discuss it as we work through the lecture. Upon completion of the lecture portion, they work on labs that are designed to reinforce what we did as a group. Labs are followed by projects that show their ability to perform the tasks learned. Projects are followed by exams that test them in the software. Working through this process helps to keep the information in their brains and makes the software easy for them to learns.
I think that repeating the key points of a discussion in different ways with different examples, then asking the students questions like- what did I say?, perhaps they were not listening the first time?
and/or- what did I mean, explain it to me in a different way, help to clairafy a point. keeping things basic and on point is key.
Hi Steven,
This is the verbalize and then visualize model of teaching and it is very effective. The students hear the content in lecture and then get to see it applied in the lab. This really helps with content retention as you know. Great job.
Gary
I also agree. I teach phlebotomy students (vampires)and after a lecture I will then take the class into the lab for a demonstration ran by other students to see if the information has sunk in.
I very much agree. I teach a dental materials class and retaining information seems to work best when I discuss the material, visually show how it is used in a lab setting, demonstrate how it is used on an actual patient, and then let them practice to competency, they never need to be shown again.
