Hi Cynthia,
Thank you for sharing a number of very effective learning strategies. These methods can be used by instructors in many different settings and with diverse learning groups.
Gary
I call roll every day and thank them when they respond, the have had fun changing seats this quarter and letting me find them when they have moved across the lab, they seem to be enjoying it and it has helped me get to know their names much quicker. Also you can have them responsible for something within the course content. Small group work can help those that are hesitate to partcipate have a role in a small less threatening environment.
I find this response very interesting. It may be something I will try. I do believe that the changing of seating does have an effect on class. It changes the dynamics and their responses. I always try to get my students to come forward. Too many try to sit in the last row. I think this is a habit from a previous (not so good) experience.
Hi John,
Good way to create a connection with the students and to demonstrate that you are there to help and support them if they will put forth the effort. The human factor goes a long way in keeping students in the school.
Gary
From Day 1 I try to make sure the students know I am trying to know their names and know something about them. I find that a personal connection with the students makes the lecturing and participation much easier.
Getting to know each student is extremely important. Even if it is just a small part of their background. This sets up a rapport so students feel safe in the classroom.
A first, and very important step, is to learn your student's names, and learn them quickly. Showing students that you care enough to learn their name is a big step in the right direction. Also, getting to know a little bit about each student, ie) what they like, where they are from, what they're interested in, etc, can really make the student feel acknowledged and important. Try not to single students out, especially in a negative way, which could alienate them in front of the class.
I work in the on-line area. I find that it is important, early on, to reply to each discussion post. I reply as quickly as possible to e-mails (less than twenty-four hours.) I try to remember things about students so that I can mention them in subsequent discussion posts or e-mails. When students e-mail me with personal information, such as births, hospitalizations, car accidents, etc., I try to e-mail them a few days later to see how they are doing. I try to encourage students to interact through others...although admittedly this is hard in an on-line environment.
Hi Marcus,
Well said. Students preparing to enter a career area are looking for role models. They need to see a dedicated ethical and well prepared person leading them through their instructional efforts. By being that role model you are showing them what they can accomplish with hard work and dedication.
Thank you for the great comments.
Gary
Regardless of format, level, or style I believe that education is about learning that which you do not know and experiencing situations that you would not otherwise have an opportunity to experience. Diversity of opinion and background as it relates to gender, race, orientation and other areas are a significant part of the learning experience. As an educator, I think it is important to encourage diversity simply by being a good role model as a minority in a professional occupation.
Hi Joseph,
Great to hear. It is key for every student to feel a part of the class and make contributions. The slow but sure process helps them to gain confidence in their ability to share their perspectives.
Gary
Hi Michelle,
Good point about the need for students to work together and learn how to interaction with others. As we all know a network of contacts is needed as we move into the field. So the more social skills they develop they better prepared they are going to be make career progress.
Gary
This are great ideas to draw in those students that may not want to contribute that much to class discussions and interactions. Activities like this serve a motivators for such students and I have found that slow but sure these students will become more involved as the course progresses.
As I’d mentioned in another forum posting, I really like to have students provide contact information to each other (that they know will be shared and that they are comfortable sharing) so they feel open to the possibility of reaching out to each other as participants in the group process of the class.
When I’ve taught online courses, I felt it was VERY important to provide the students with accessible in-class support, so all students were assigned to ‘teams’. Each student on a team was assigned a letter which made up a simple word (like OWN), and assignments were given where each different letter had a different part to play. By dividing up the work in such a way, students HAD to work together to complete the entire assignment. I still hear back from students who were on these teams, and they indicate it was their favorite part of the class – many of them still keep in touch!
While we make it clear that students can approach us and ask us questions, many do not wish to – often out of the mistaken belief that others in the class know more than they do, so they don’t want to ask a ‘stupid question’ – so it works really well to provide mechanisms for students to ‘ask’ each other!
For many of my classes, I conduct online discussion forums and have ‘wiki’ collaboration areas. Assignments are often broken up so students have to work together to build a complete finished product. We’re building connections with each other, which gives a sense of support and involvement, while we build team work and communication skills! Since we’re doing some of this through my web site, we’re also building technology skills that will serve them well on the job!
I have never heard of that but I think its a great idea and very challenging. I am a dental assisting instructor and we use alot of symbols and shorthand in dentistry. I am going to try mindmapping and incorporate many of these symbols into the lecture, which will not only be fun and different but it will give them practice for externship and get them in the habit of shorthand for chart notes, etc.
Hi Jeffrey,
I like your line about listening. I am sure that this really helps to set at ease the students and their concerns about being an active part of the class. You are showing them how they can become engaged without being excessively nervous about presenting.
Gary
Inviting them to share their personal experiences on the subject matter; congratulating them on work well done, or an answer well stated; eye contact with them when they're speaking; speak to each student with respect and encouragement; recall their life experiences when applicable to the lesson; enthusiastically greet each student as they enter the classroom.
Must show respect, learn their names and also make them feel comfortable, valuable & a team member.
Lora great idea. I think students would do a better job of taking notes for someone else in hopes to satisfy the other student. Great idea.
Karen
Have you ever heard of mindmapping? I try to encourage my students to use this technique in taking notes. It is a method of using different colored pencils and designs to take notes in class. For some students it helps them to remember topics. If you get a chance there is a video on you tube about it.
