Student retention
I quiz my students daily on the retention of my lectures. Once finished lecturing, I have a student discussion and make sure everyone is participating in the discussion. If not, they don't receive their discussion points for the day.
I don't actually teach but my position has me evaluate the instructors on their presentation / teaching styles. As I listen I do see many just an itching to share a story about their life etc. In the last class class I monitored ( Growth and Development) I saw the instructor had ample opportunities to ask them questions about their own up bringing and are they raising their kids the same way etc. I will share this technique with her next week when I go over the observation.
Hi Jim,
The points to be given depend on your grading scale. I use a 500 base. The students earn points for tests, projects, and a section I call "professionalism". Professional points are given for contributions in class through presentations, discussion and small group work. I set the value at a level where the loss of professional points won't fail a student but the earning of them will increase their grade by a letter.
I'm not clear on your phrase "legitimate absence of students in participating". If you mean they aren't attending class that is one thing or if they are contributing to the discussions then that is another. Just let me know what you are thinking on this and I will get back with you.
Gary
How many points are issued per quarter per class for discussion. Also, how do you handle the 'legitimate' abscence of students in participting?
I have also used this practice of asking what they learned today. It usually has pretty good results.
I may start trying this, I sometimes am unsure if what I am trying to get across actually gets across in a way that they understand and maybe if I try this I will learn something about how they learn and something about my self and my teaching style.
i start the day with a short review of the previous day with many questions, and this just leads to the current days's discussion.
Hi Lori,
Good way to get them involved in a number of different ways. This way they can play to their preferences in terms of how they are going to share what they have learned.
Gary
I have also quizzed my students at the end of the discussion. Prior to that, I give them time to ask questions pertaining to the content we just discussed. During the lecture, I also let them share experiences that pertain to the topic.
Hi Nicholas,
Good way to end the class. This leaves them thinking about the "ROI" of the day and sets the stage for the next class meeting.
Gary
I always at the end of a lesson ask my students what they learned today. This does two things.
1. It makes them stay alert knowing that I may call on them at the end of class.
2.It assures them they did learn something and they then walk wawy with a good feeling that they accomplished something.
Another option is to have students write a short reflection paper during the last 5 minutes of class. This allows students to process the information that they just received and lets the instructor know what stuck with the students and what didn't. If you find that there is a topic that most students glazed over then you can recover that at the beginning of the next class.
That's a great idea! I will start that immediately.
Hi Meghan,
This is a good way to debrief as well as assess how the class went. It also gives the students an opportunity to verbalize what has just been covered.
Gary
