Students of different ages have a variety of different things to contribute to one another and can learn and have their lives enriched by one another.
Hi Norman,
You make a key point about the breaking down of the content and skills into segments that the students are able to understand and internalize. Once an instructor gets a hold of how to do the segmenting then the instructional process gets easier and the students learn more effectively.
Gary
Hi Steven,
Right you are about the need to identify the different types of learners in the classroom. What are some methods you use to do this?
Thanks in advance for sharing with us.
Gary
Hi Mary,
You covered learner characteristics very well. Learner characteristics covers both the learning preference part as well as the life experiences that the students bring to the classroom. Downsized or unemployed workers looking to prepare for a new career are different that students that are trying to come out of addiction to create a future. Both groups have need for support they just need different kinds of support. The more we can know about them the more we can help them. You are right on target with your efforts to help them continue their career preparation and growth.
Gary
Hi Martha,
You are so right. My heart goes out to some of the students I am working with currently. They don't have some of the basic needs even though they are working hard at part time jobs to provide for their families and go to school to create a new career path. Through our understanding we can be supportive and help them to move forward on their new career paths.
Gary
Hi Tony,
You make a good point. What are some way you use to learn more about your students?
Thanks in advance for sharing with us.
Gary
Understanding learner characteristics allows you to fine-tune your instructional style to the recepients of information you want to impart. A lot of us have spent so much time dealing with the information in oru field as students ourselves and also as researchers, but familiarity with this mass of information does not necessarily translate into effective technique for disseminating this information to a class.
The instructor must identify the different type of learners in the classroom and provide a variety of learning applications in order to include all students.
I'm not sure what you mean by "Learner Characteristics." Do you mean "Learning Styles" or the socio-economic backgrounds of our learners? Are we going to account for learner demographics? Previous academic experience and/or the learner's relationship to the material that is to be mastered? These are only a few of the elements that should drive a curriculum decision.
If the answer to my question above is both learning styles and socio-economic characteristics of each learner, obviously it is important to plan instructional activities that are relevant, and that appeal to and engage a wide variety of learning styles.
Something I have found successful in my online class discussions is to share some examples of my own challenges in school so the students can relate to me as a "real" person with similar issues that were overcome.
Understanding learner characteristics can help faculty prepare to meet learners' needs. For example, knowing that the youthful learner seeks social acceptance can help us understand the value of an introduction or lounge area. For those who are dislocated workers, we may need to provide links to evidence that their training can benefirt them. Knowing that any of them may be struggling with some of Maslow's basic needs can also help us provide more empathy during trying times.
Regards,
Martha Moore
I have similar challenges in my online class, and I've found that making an effort to connect with the students by phone in the first two weeks can help the students feel more comfortable communicating with me when they have questions.
Getting to know students in an online classroom can be a challenge, and it takes extra effort to establish relationships so we can learn more about them. Much of our content is already provided for us, so we have to find ways to "connect" with the students. Once we connect with them and they feel comfortable with us, we can more easily find ways to help them connect their own experiences with the content and stay focused on their goals.
Understanding learner characteristics helps the instructor tailor the lessons to best fit the needs of their students. It also allows the instructor avoid creating negative dissonance in the classroom.
I think we can accomplish knowing more about students through ice-breakers and simply asking questions during biographies. Chris Bloss
I agree, the stronger student often suffers the worse in this type of atmosphere. Chris Bloss
Understanding the characteristics can help the planning process by helping the instructor target specific learning styles in the class and present the information in a way that the maximum number of students understand the material.
Hi Tracy,
Sounds like you have developed ways to reach all of your students no matter how diverse the class may be. I commend you for your effort because online instruction can be a challenge when it comes to engaging students. You have successfully done that to the benefit of your students. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Hi Terena,
So true. We do impact lives and we need to remember that as we prepare and deliver our instruction. The future of our students depends on the effort we are putting forth today. Their success will be our legacy.
Gary
Hi Tina,
Nice gentle way to include everyone. This way even the shy students feel they are a part of the course and can contribute.
Gary
