It is very important to understand the various learner characteristics of your students. I did not fully understand this idea when I first began teaching, so I had a hard time getting certain students to understand my lessons. With knowledge and experience, I have learned to incorporate multiple ways to communicate a single lesson, including powerpoint text and pictures, hands-on, and verbal lecture. I have found that with some extra one-on-one when needed, this has helped me reach the most students.
Hi Marisa,
You are doing a great job of adapting your instruction to meet the needs of your students. You are showing them application and relevancy of a subject that they don't really see as being that important in their lives. By showing them how they can blend science and design in their lives you are making it real for them.
Gary
By understanding where your students are in terms of their learning styles & expectations, you as an instructor can better plan your material and attempt to reach students with differing learning styles. Personally, I teach a science course to typically right-brained student body full of artists & designers. Science can be quite difficult for them, so I try to get a handle on where their difficulties lie, and accommodate them as best as I can. I try to relate the material to everyday situations and knowledge so that the material does not seem as "scary" or "intimidating." So far, the students seem to enjoy it.
it helps with activities - pacing - time management as well as evaluating
Not only that...your students will perceive this as un-professional...therefore not worth learning
As the instructor,I would need a good knowledge of the students past and futture goals, which in turn will help me have empathy for the them and their learning style.
Hi Natalie,
Great way to make a graphic point. It it glows it needs to go. I am sure your students will think much about how they wash their hands in the future because they have seen a tactile graphic example of what happens when certain steps are omitted.
Gary
The culinary student are tactile learners for the most part. It is imperative that your instruction include some type of hands on opportunity with them. In teaching sanitation a "lab" concerning handwashing, using a luminescent powder as the "germs" has real meaning. When different groups are asked to skip different steps and they can see the results under the black light the "lightbulb" goes off.
Hi Gail,
Your support of your students is to be commended because you are an essential link in keeping the students in the program. They know you know about a bit about them plus their names. This is where respect and rapport comes into being an effective educator.
Gary
I teach nursing students in the clinical setting. There is wide diversity in my classes, and learning the students names as soon as possible is so important. I am learning about 'learner characteristics' and see how important that it is to respect cultural diversity.
I want them to feel comfortable to bring me their questions and concerns, and I think using their names in discussion shows that I respect them and what they are doing.
As previously mentioned by others, I also have an open door policy and I am also available for them after they have left my class and moved on.
If I have an understanding of how students of mine take in information and retain it, then the more I am able to address all of those styles, the more motivated my students are and I am better able to retain students not only within my class, but possibly with other classes as well.
He helps to make him feel comfortable, motivate him as well,and being able to bring maximum
satisfaction through the course for him
to be successfull .
It helps you also to be ready and bring the best product regarding the needs of the learner as well .
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND YOUR STUDENTS AND HOW BEST THEY LEARN. THIS WAY THE INSTRUCTOR CAN CUSTOMIZE IF YOU WILL THE WAY THE CLASS WILL BE MANAGED TO MAXIMIZE LEARNING
Hi Marc,
The understanding and knowledge about your students will also help you with developing rapport with them. By getting them engaged in the learning process focused on what you are trying to do you will have a much easier time when teaching.
Gary
By having a better understanding of my students needs an personal characteristics, I can better plan out my course and daily lessons to bets suit their individual needs and pace.
Hi Warren,
Good planning also helps to reduce stress on the part of instructors. If we are organized and have planned everything out we are then ready to go when the class started. If we are running around trying to pull things together at the last minute then stress is going to take over. None of us needs that.
Gary
It helps when yiu are planning each day as what needs to be set up the class room ex. more training aids, markers, construction paper. Makes it easier to plan the day.
It enables us to understand the responses better and to know when we must elaborate more on a subject or to ask them more. It also helps in setting up lab groups.
in order to be a good instructor you must understand your students and their concerns and be supportive when that student feels like they want to quit.
Hi James,
Good plan for fully integrating all of the unique backgrounds and experiences of your students into a positive learning setting. I am sure both the older and younger students really benefit from working with each other as well as developing respect for where each other is coming from.
Gary
