Staying focused!
Staying focused sounds easy and for some it might be but for others it is very easy to fall into the same old routine as always. Some will be teaching the same class the same way for the past 20 years. That is wrong. We as instructors MUST be utilizing technology in our classes to bring out the best learning experience possible and we need to ask the students what they want to learn and how they think they can learn it the best. For example, I have asked my students what they want to learn for a Midterm project, etc and after we have agree on an idea or two, then I have them tell me how they want to conduct that learning experience. Sometimes it is a paper, a power point presentation, a community event, or a presentation where they are teaching other students and then assessing them, etc.
*** This process creates "ownership" of the learning experience and very few will fail. Leadership 101 has said over and over again, if you want someone or some thing to change, let the employee (or in this case the student) tell you the best way to accomplish that change (or in this case, learning experience) and they will then have "ownership" in that process and will excel! If we run things like a dictatorship and tell them how to achieve something then we will always have rebels in the group who just won't do it.
Almost all Syllabi have "Course Objectives"...
These objective need to adhered to and refrenced back consisently during the course. This is a tool to keep "on track"!
Hi James,
I think you are going to like this approach. I have had great results over the years. The feedback the students give me is candid and positive. The enjoy having the opportunity of helping to make the class even better. I have never had a student vent.
Gary
I like the idea of the 3x5 card. I usually do a verbal questioning about how to improve something but not everyone participates. I think I'll try the cards and see the result.
This is just what I need. I will be trying this approach on Monday with my students.
Thank you for the great idea.
That is great advice. I have used the technique of allowing the student "ownership" and I have come to find I meet much less resistance and many times many less compliants because then the student is complaining on his or her own solutions.
