Elizabeth,
This is one of the rewards of being a teacher. We get to learn from our students and hopefully they in turn learn from us. We get to be life long learners and get paid besides. What a deal!
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
we ALL can learn from each other a good teacher can learn from their students as well as the student learning from the teacher
Marcia,
This is such a great way to get a "read" on the incoming class. Having them express their goals, doing a personal assessment and providing some insight into their experiences shows them that you want to learn more about them as individuals as well as helps you to customize your instruction to meet their learning needs.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
At the start of each new course I like to have the students jot down on a 3x5 card their questions, concerns, fears etc. about the course; also I like for them to list their strenghths and weaknesses that will help or hinder their success in the course. This gives them and myself insight up front so we can work on some of these issues together.
Shelly,
This is a good strategy because of the sharing that occurs but also helps the students to learn how to work with others. They need to have this skill well developed if they are going to be successful in the workplace.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I teach in a clinical setting and find pairing students up according to "work" experiences (in the field being taught) helps to further develop clinical skills, strengths, opportunity to share "tricks of the trade" which aids in forming a personal bond with one another.
Laura,
You are doing such a great service for your students by helping them to create support systems both in and out of school. These support systems are what will keep many of them in school when times get tough.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I instruct students to step up study groups with at least one peer so they have someone else to work with during their time at my school. Also, I have them build a support network at home with people the support them and want them to succeed.
Joulette,
I'm a Medical Assistant instructor as well. We have a HIT program. We have been trying to implement a competency at the end of the term for both programs. We have the right space to set a mock office front and back. We are just working on getting the HIT side situated. I love the idea to help them see that in the field we work together, period. No program is better than another.
You have used the term ALLIED in such a wonderful way to emphasize team work! We are all ALLIED to each other to provide superior care to our patients.
Pearlmarie,
Like these ideas for starting out a new class and getting the students familiar with each other. These are fun activities that will help set a positive tone for the students' new learning community.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have used small groups so students can get to know each other. The groups can be self-selected or some type of random groupings. Also, letting students write and read their autobiographies sometimes notes places, people, and activities they have had in common.
Kristina,
Thank you for sharing your experience and expertise about how to handle student learning groups. I know this information will be valuable to other instructors.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
With big groups the class usually gets divided. I try to pair people up with the opposite groups if possible so the students can get an understanding of different personalities cause sometimes in the working field there will always be someone you need to try and get along with. Also I have seen some become really close even after school. I also think its a good idea to let ones that have disagreements Try and figure out a happy medium, and not always let them pick their groups or change them. Sometimes we need to pick or stay at a job that might not have the most well behaved people.
Shronda,
In what way do you do this?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
by takeing you time to listen
Jacquelin,
Study or work teams like those you are planning on creating can be of create help in getting the students to work together and develop cooperative skills. Generally groups like this get real excited about the project they are working on because they are sharing a common goal in relation to the assignment.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I would try to have my students communicate with each other more and try to pair them up in groups they wouldn't normally pick. This way they are able to learn from each other.
Rochelle,
What a great way to provide comfort and security for new students. By having them to the activities related to learning styles and then talking about support systems they get to see that they can be successful if they are willing to invest in the effort needed.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Marc,
I use group work a lot in my classes as well. The sharing and interaction helps them to expand their abilities to work with others to reach common goals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
