I think that the understanding of learner characteristics goes hand in hand with the ability to facilitate the small group team building along with enhancing the entire learning experience for the class. I sometimes find myself wishing some of those characteristics were of a different nature, allowing for a faster pace course, but in the end, I inevitably learn from each of my students.
Hi Reggie,
This is sad to hear but commonly expressed by many individuals that have gone back to college and encountered such instructors. The positive aspect of your experiences is that you know how you can approach your students and have a real impact on their learning and career growth.
Gary
By understanding the learner characteristics, one can better cater your educational programs so that individuals can better relate and learn. Each person has their own strengths and weaknesses and identifying them will make us better instructors.
Peter,
I couldn't agree with you more; every class is different. Even when teaching the same course and content, in a term, I need to revise lessons and exercises for the different classses. You may have a larger group of visual learners in class#1 and kinestic learners in class#2.
Great post and thanks for sharing.
John
Before I even taught my first class I had already formed certain notions about the most effective intructional delivery methods. I based my ideas on past classes that I was a student in, plus a mixture of my own viewpoints on higher education. After teaching my first course I realized I made a greatly miscalculated my teaching methods. It started when I was teaching the same course, using the same delivery methods, to two different groups of students. Where one method worked in one class, it completely failed in another class. I realized I was missing the boat on something.
That something was failing to take into account students learning characteristics. Every class is different, and students will require different deleivery methdods in order to meet their needs. It is hard to make a lesson plan, and then say, "this is the way this will be taught now and always." You certainly cannot reach out to every student in the same way. I usually try to assess learning characteristics early in the course. Of course, it is best to keep some sort of documented record of these characteristics for future use.
By understanding the needs of ones students the instructor is better able to successfully reach that student and thus provide effictive instruction. This, of course, is the goal of all learning instutions and although there are many steps to acheiving this...it is an important beginning in the student/teacher relationship.
As someone who went back to school as an adult and attended a "traditional" institution of higher education, i must say that understanding learners' characteristics helps the instructor make the subject as relevant to theirs as possible. Unfortunately, this was not my experience throughout my educational journey, and yet it is so important for success.
Al,
I agree with your wisdome. By letting older student "tell" the younger ones, it validates what you as the instructor say, as well as give them peer recognition of the ideas you are trying to teach. Good job!
By understand the learning characteristics of your students you are able to tailor your instruction process to best suit their abilities to learn. Using lecture alone - especially with non-traditional student - is a sure way to loose students. You must relate the material to experiences they have had or anticipate having in their futire career.
You have to understand the group to reach the group. When you know your students you can reach out and make the learning experience personal for each of them by touching the various learning styles. This will let you capitalize on the strenghts and weaknesses of the group. You can teach toward their specific career goals.
Understanding what you learn that applies to what you are interested in.
Hi Myra,
I agree with you about the need for someone to help you to keep up with the technology. Our university has two techs assigned to our building where we can have someone available to help us in 3 to 5 minutes. This help is for our computer, software and/or presentation development. They are great and really help to save my time and keep me current. The ROI on this is great for both the students and the instructors. Good luck with your request.
Gary
I've actually recommended to our administration to create a position of Provost/Director of Educational Technology so that we can keep up with all of the developing technologies. It's often difficult to see how these technologies can be applied to your specific course when you are not a technology buff.
Hi Steve,
I think you will be very pleased with the results you get with this approach.
Gary
Hi Steve,
I like to do the assigning of students to groups. At the beginning of the course I spend time getting to know my students so I can assign them to groups that will be balanced in terms of abilities and experience. Then when I put them into groups I know that each group will be able to accomplish the assigned work.
Gary
Of course every time i have to change the members of each group.
Dr Meers, would you change the members of the group or leave them the same throughout the class?
I suspect younger students have less fear. And this can be a good point. If balanced with older students, this might work. I will try to use this concept and see if the results are positive overall.
I discovered that age leads to more leadership skills. Mature students have been around the block more times. They can steer other students to acceptable solutions and help them manage their time wisely.
This is a good idea. I am a computer science instructor and we have many class projects with partners. In the past, I allowed students to form their own groups. But I can do the grouping sometimes to facilitate diversity. Does this seem right?
