An understanding of learner characteristics is necessary to plan appropriate methods and styles of instruction. Without planning for your audience, or students, the message will be be less than ideally transmitted.
Having this type of understanding makes it much easier to plan instruction that will be the most beneficial to students.
Hi Bonni,
You already have a gift to lean on, the ability to remember interesting facts about each student. Tie the interesting fact that you can remember to that student's name. Make the connection between golf and Susan several times and then when you walk up to Susan again you will be thinking golf and Susan as being one. This is how I remember my students' names plus they like it when I can chat with them about their own interests, kids, dogs, etc.
Gary
Hi Theresa,
Good point. Sad but it does happen. There is a lot of work to still be done in this area. Since most of my work is career development for persons with disabilities I understand what you are talking about.
Gary
Hi Teresa,
What are strategies that you have used to help you with understanding learner characteristics more effectively?
Thanks.
Gary
I have a difficulty in matching names to faces, but I can remember an interesting fact about almost every student: an outside interest, unique talent, etc. I try to build examples in class around some of these things and it seems to keep all the students more engaged. Any good hints on remembering names?
I think the people who wrote the test may have few life experiences - hence the bias (perhaps a younger cohort - like gen Y or millenials)
ADA requirements demand that schools comply - however most schools take the attitude that they would rather pay a fine than be proactive - once the ADA focuses on a facility and files a suit, a school / organization usually complies - which is not being proactive - also - some states have a more compliant culture (like California) where you see many challenged people (ambulatory, hearing impaired, blind, etc.) working side-by-side able (non-disabled) people - however - in the state where I live and teach - Nevada - people with disabilites are not helped - either the physically challenged or the learning challenged - I think only a few lawsuits will change behavior here - once one company gets sued then the others take notice. It's not fair - however it is the common culture. You may be right labeling it "misguided" as the students won't get hired in many casino's here where they are required to carry the 50 pound item (most job qualifications require the person to walk, bend, reach, and carry a 50 pound item - that way they get around having to hire someone in a wheelchair. Next time you come to Las Vegas - try and count the number of employees in wheel chairs here (not any) and learning impaired (dyslexic, autistic, etc.) are also discriminated against.
by understanding learner characteristics it helps the instructor and the instructional planning process by better understanding the student and how they process information - allowing the instructor to adapt what needs to be changed and keep what is already working well
by understanding learner characteristics you can better help the student by adapting your communication to that particular student
One's philosophical educational theory informs an educator in the design of a learning experience that incorporates the learner characteristics such as age, level of ability, level of subject matter, learning styles, modality, etc.
When these characteristics are imbedded in the design and deliver the best learning environment is created and maintained.
Hi Bruce,
Good job of creating rapport with your students even though they are online. By them feeling like you know them and a bit about them they will be more involved in the course and willing to participate in the discussions.
Gary
Hi, I teach online as well and using names in emails, in grading feedback, etc. does help to personalize the content.
And getting back to them quickly is also important, so that they get an answer and can move ahead. :-) Lyn
Hi all,
I think that understanding learner characteristics means being student centered rather than just content centered. The student still needs to learn the content or the skills, but there are many paths or techniques for doing this.
To me this means that I need to be available to students for questions, or concerns. Or, if a student is really lost, I may have to be the one to ask the questions. Where are you getting stuck? Is there a specific part of this that is giving you the most trouble? If we can pinpoint the confusion, we have better success in moving past a sticking point. And, don't you just love it when a student says, "Oh, now I see!"
Or, if I think they are not making good use of their time, I may ask them how they are approaching the assignments. Are they leaving enough time to prepare and edit, for example? We all run into classes that are tougher for us than others... that is okay, but it may mean spending more time on it than we first planned.
I also like to work with Student Advisors if I suspect that students are challenged by events or issues that are not course related. Students may feel more comfortable discussing these issues and concerns with their Advisors than with me. Student advisors are great allies! Lyn
I can see how that eye contact would be helpful to connect to students. I teach online so I need to rely on written communication as the main means to connect although I can phone call students to speak to them as well. It goes a long way when I have some background information about students so I can use learner characteristics in my interactions with those learners. I often get that information from opening discussions.
Understanding learner characteristics helps in the instructional planning process so that an instructional strategy can be matched to the motivations of the learner. For example, nontraditional learners can provide interesting work-related experiences to many assignments. Allowing a learner with the characteristic of being a nontraditional student to draw on existing experience accomplishes several benefits such as putting the student at ease, providing an opportunity for the student to succeed, and drawing connections between prior knowledge and new concepts.
The instructor can focus one on one with the student once that instructor unserstands his/her characteristics. I use facial expressions of the students, so that I as an instructor can understand my student. A lot of eye contact with my student.
Everyone learns and deals with situations differently. You have to 'read' your students and work with them each as they are. If someone is struggling, you have to do your best to help but also not point out to others that they are struggling. On the other hand, those that are excelling need to be challenged. It's a struggle.
Hi Jan,
Good multi-purposed approach to instructional delivery. You are reaching the different learning preferences which enables the students to work in their preferred areas at different times throughout the course. This increases their buyin in the course.
Gary
It helps educators create a more diverse learning environment.
All people are different. They are motivated by different factors, they have different reasons for deciding to return to school, they have different methods of helping them retain information (visual vs. auditory vs. tactile) and it is important that we as instructors recognize these differences. While it would be extremely difficult to accommodate each and every single student separately, we can instill various learning tools within the classroom. In addition to the text book, we can offer discussion forums, teleconference, web conferences, PowerPoints, links to other resources etc. in an effort to facilitate learning within the classroom.
