I definitely agree that using guest speakers, recent graduates, etc... helps the student relate course material to their field of choice. Our Pharmacy Technician program invites the Emily Jerry foundation at the beginning of our mods to stress the importance of safety and accuracy in the pharmacy. It really seems to turn our student's focus towards the patient.
Understanding the characteristics of the students in your class during the instructional process is important because it will allow you to development the class with a variety of teaching methods to reach all the students (ie. visual, hands-on, verbal). Everyone learns in a different way and an instructor must develop the instruction to meet the needs of all students. If additional services are needed for a particular student then that should be looked into with the ADA coordinator of the school.
Carolyn,
I will look forward to hearing about your results.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Lisa,
Field trips and guest speakers really help to motivate students throughout the course so be sure to include both in your instructional planning.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I am excited about this course. I especially find Maslow's Order of Needs to be a hopeful tool to use on an individual basis. I was enlightened by the "Order" and will start applying it ASAP. I plan to rack the use of Maslow's order with one specific class and will share the results in my postings.
i have found that they enjoy guest speakers it helps enforce what they are learning. they enjoy talking to others in this field to see where they have gone .
i feel the same way it is hard to plan things when in a cosmetology setting. I feel they like taking field trips to help enforce what they are laerning
Ethel,
Thank you for these comments that reinforce our need to engage all of our students in the learning process. This way we know that we are helping each person achieve his/her career goals as they progress toward program completion.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that as you work on your class over time, you are "perfecting" it. On the contrary, every single classroom will have different needs, so it should be changed in some way for every class section.
Keeping these learner characteristics in mind is a good way to remind ourselves that we need to develop and personalize the class to every group we teach. One way to bring out these characteristics as well as improve confidence is to allow for class discussion when possible.
I've found that many students need to demonstrate a process to themselves (even something as simple as a daily schedule) to understand exactly how it can and will work for them. In the same way, my students seem far more likely to complete their homework thoroughly when given a few minutes to start it in class--it's as though they don't even believe they can do it until they've tried.
Instructional planning should be culturally mediated when it incorporates and integrates diverse ways of knowing, understanding, and representing any information.
With increasing diversity in our schools, the ongoing demographic changes across the nation and the movement towards globalization demands that we develop a more in-depth understanding of culture if we want to bring about full understanding among diverse populations.
Instructional planning allow learning to take place in an environment that encourages multicultural viewpoints and allows for inclusion of knowledge that is relevant to the students. Learning happens in culturally appropriate social situations.
Relationships between instructors and students are important to carry out the job of building understanding for the learners outcome to be great; therefore, however we as instructors must be a diverse thinker in the Instructional planning process.
Instructional materials must reflect age-appropriate interests; and the activities and assignments within each lesson must be developmentally appropriate, sequential, and incremental.
The understanding and appreciation of
multiple cultures extends beyond fair representation.
Cynthia,
I agree and this is why I have graduates come in and reinforce what I have been teaching my students. Students really perk up when one of their colleagues tells them how it is out in the real world.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Many times we find that hearing realworld experiences from recent grads or those students doing externships rather that US (instructors) penetrates them far more significantly than our stories! I thinks sometimes the information is "fresher" or hits closer to home from a peer than from an instructor!
I think as teachers, especially if we are new at it, we tend to teach in the style that we learn best. By identifying the learner characteristics, I am able to adjust my teaching techniques.
One thing that I find particularly useful is the initial testing results for admission into our school has a section that identifies the examiners learning style. Many times the students are surprised by this information and can use it to help them make adjustments in their studying.
i find i can relate to the student better if i know their backgrounds.
In order to successfully plan an instructional process the instructor must understand that not all students learn the same way. Some students learn visually, some learn through hearing, some through doing. As an instructor, if we understand all types of learning types we can be more effective in the classroom by teaching to all students. A hands on learner will be bored to tears with nothing but power point after power point. Soon, the instructor will begin to sound like the Charlie Brown teacher. I like to involve activities such as games, guest speakers, critical thinking lessons in which the students het to DO something as well as listen and watch.
Leigh,
This is such a great service to and for your students. This way they get to learn in their different learning preferences at different times in the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Jean,
I use graduates as guest speakers in my classes for the reasons you list. They help to make my content valid and real for my students. They reinforce the ROI of being in class and learning the content.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Jean,
Thank you for these good comments about how to find your balance in instructional planning and delivery. The failures can be just as successful as the successes if they are seen as learning opportunities. I know when I try something new in terms of an activity I never know if it will be successful. This is part of what makes teaching fun as well as challenging.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
i try to incorporate instruction/examples for each learning style i identify in my classroom
