Venusa,
Learners crave order but desire variety. Sounds like a complex order but it really isn't. By offering different learning opportunities, change of pace and critical thinking skill development the students will expand their knowledge and skill sets in a way that moves them closer to their career goals.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Paulette,
This is a part of teaching adults. They need to see themselves as partners in the learning process so they do need to have opportunities to make choices throughout the course.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Using various instructional methodologies can help reinfroce the new knowledge or skill learned. Because learning is better enhanced and retained if we use teaching methods that address visual, audio and kinesthetic learners. Sharing personal experiences in a workplace not only enhance their understanding and memory but also learning more than what is on the book.
Give the learner choice, and reward them dependinig on the choice they select. divide the challenges so they cant choose a easy non challenging method, but mix the method do that either way, all methods are invole at different time. this will help the learner to use all possible knowledge to arrive at their answers.
Ruth Whitaker,
I feel that it is vital for students to be able to apply new knowledge learned. This can be done through case studies. The student could also be asked to utilize this knowlege in their own work areas or life experiences.
DARRON,
Immediate use of newly acquired knowledge is critical for increased content retention. You make a good point about how this impacts the learning process.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
The best way I found is to have them actively apply what has been reviewed or lectured upon and then create fun ways to relate the new information such as games, quizzes etc
After “feeding†information via reading assignments, lectures or handouts students will retain the information much better if they have a hands on lesson to practice what they’ve learned.
It has been my experience that the adult students hand in their assignements earlier and tend to do better on tests. Perhaps it's because of their life experiences in having had experience with deadlines.
Evelyn,
This is so important in the learning process. The more connecting of the dots you can do for your students the more applications and relevancy they will see in the content. This gets them motivated to learn even more and the class really takes off.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
To help students retain and apply new information it's important to help them see how it will be used in the real world. Give them examples of how they will be able to use the information in their career field. This will keep them interested in the material and have them think of ways it will apply to them. I also like to have students work in groups to discuss and use the information they learned so that it sticks.
By showing students how to apply the information you are giving them. It makes the information relavent and not just an abstract concept.
Edward,
Right you are. When students realize that they can take their new found knowledge and skills out into their communities and apply them to their lives they get really excited that they are being taught "useable" content.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Just like in association marketing, if you inspire the students with connectable information they will be more apt to retain it. Make it entertaining and applicable to the real world work experience. Share stories that relate to actual work scenarios they can appreciate.
Nancy,
I use them a lot in my classes as well. They really reinforce what I am teaching and show the students what they can accomplish once they graduate.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Ladansa,
I am always amazed when students realize that much of what they are learning in the classroom can be used out in the real world. This brings the "WOW" factor out for the students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I like to bring in a guest speaker to class to present a new topic. This helps students find credibility in the material they are about to learn.
The best way is with the projects, but to get them to try something different at work. I taught word processing. I ask for everyone to use something they learned at work. It wasan eye opener for some because they thought they would never use certain functions they learned ever again. They where also able to show someone else at work what they know which is always a plus.
By allowing students to find ways or be given ways for them to use the information that they have learned helps them to retain the information. Group projects and discussions are a great way for students to experiment with new information. These group activities help to foster the repore relationship between student and teacher and student to student.
Richard
I try to apply new information to real life situations the students will face in the workplace. Either through relating real life experience of my own or by using hypothetical situations. Then I ask for feedback from my students as to how they might see themselves using the knowledge themselves in the workplace.
