Dr,. Meers, I believe that we have to understand the individual needs of each of the students because it will help with retention and motivation. The older student brings a lot more to the table. It is also important to understand learner characteristics to be effective in teaching the material. I must not teach the way I learned but how today's student learns. More visual aids, shorter time frames of material, evolving and being willing to accept the dynamics of each class room experience allows me to be more effective and listen to the needs of the students.
Hi Ken,
You are right about the need for students to personalize their education. Instructors need to lay out their teaching strategies in such a fashion that the students can see themselves in the learning process. When they do they get motivated and excited about learning.
Gary
Hi Kerry,
This is a great thing to do. It lets you "read" the climate of the students as they come in. As instructors we don't know what might have occurred before class that will impact on their learning. Spending a few minutes with them as they come in will help you to get the feel of how the class is going to go.
Gary
Hi Timothy,
I like your approach to getting the class off to a good start. They know you will be watching out for their best interest in terms of pacing and progress. Good job.
Gary
As you learn the characteristics of your learner you can focus on the best ways for them to understand the content of whats being taught. If it has meaning in their personal life they are more apt to retain it. If you encourage them to use their newly aquired skills as soon as possible it will help their understanding of of the material learned.
Understanding learner characteristics gives the instructor ideas on how to present information and motivate the student.
One way to do this is to greet the students at the door before they enter the room. Have a breif conversation with them.
I always tell the students on the 1st day that the class that we are going to move at the pace of them,I explain that it will take about 3 days for me to learn the class pace. This is what I do to see how each students learning style is and the direction I must take. This works well for me. I explain that this is a adjustment that will impact all of them in a positive way and help me teach them at the same time.
Hi Glenn,
Good quote. The key is the experience and expertise of those in charge. For the most part that happens to be we instructors. That is why I rely heavily on my advisory committees and industrial/business standards to help me select the right content for my courses.
Gary
Hi Michael,
Well said. If students aren't sure of how they are doing in the course or feel that they can't succeed then they are going to be frustrated and drop out. By knowing they are gaining new skills and knowledge plus succeeding in meeting the course requirements they will be confident of their future in the course.
Gary
This understanding of learner characteristics comes from the ability to empathize with the students and their needs.
Basing their comments on Ralph Tyler (1949), Cervero and Wilson (1994) assert that
Objectives are a matter of choice, and they must therefore be considered value judgments of those responsible for the school…After all the information is collected about what might be taught in an educational program, the values of those who are responsible for the program determine what is actually taught. (p. 163).
All students have fears. Its our job to understand this and be able to identify what they are and guide them through them. Building in them the confidance to keep moving forward.
Knowing learners characteristics can help you plan your lesson ,by setting a pace everyone will feel comfortable with and not throwing imformation too quick.This will keep everyone at ease and let them take in the imfomation instead of just trying to keep up.This will also create a more at ease learning enviroment.
Understaning the leaners characteristics can help you know how fast and how much imformation you can give without leaving the class or any one in the class behind.It will also let you keep a comfortable enviroment and let the students feel at ease while taking in new things.
Hi Kerry,
What are some strategies that you use to help you understand the characteristics of your students better?
Gary
Hi Phillipp,
You are correct about needing to know something about your students. The more you know the more opportunities you have to target the learning needs of these individuals.
Gary
Understanding a learners characteristics helps in teaching the class the most effective way the students will learn your course. All classes are not the same, some you need to explain slowly and into more detail. While other classes have an understanding of the material and you can go in to the subject at a higher learning level.
Not knowing individual needs leaves the instructor shooting in the dark.
It is only with the discovery of the needs of students and how you can aim the training at them are you able to even come close to successfully educating a student.
By allowing the instructor to utilize the appropiate presentation tools; i.e. lecture, hands-on, demonstration, writing, note-taking, discussion, video or audio.
