Showing student work, good or bad, can be an excellent example of the standards they should strive to achieve in their professional field. Using the "bad" as an appropriate and non threatening teaching tool can motivate these students to work harder to achieve success. Showing the "good" can be an example of quality work and sets an established goal students can actually see and strive towards.
So that they can understand what is expected in a very detailed and concrete way. In this way there is less change (hopefully) of miss understanding and lesser achievement on deliverables
Not only does providing examples help to demystify what we are looking for in a finished project, but some students are nervous about poor performance. Creating a concrete example of what is expected can alleviate some of this stress while also opening a dialog about confusing or subjective criteria in an assignment. Some students may not completely understand the wording in an assignment or be confused by the subject matter or parameters of the project itself. More information can help to clarify and strengthen the point of the exercise while giving the students food for thought in their own interpretations of the assignment.
Hi Owena,
I let my students know up front that it is only an example, and I do not want their work looking like the example. They must use their own creativity. I certainly understand your point.
Patricia Scales
Hello
I often questions showing the work of others because I don't want students to think they should mimic the example. I found that the few times I have given examples, I receive limited individuality on assignments.
Hi Steven,
Examples shared provide better clarity!
Patricia Scales
Often too, I invite the students to share if they've ever done anything like this before, and many times they have great wisdom to share - plus it draws more conversation and buy in from the other students.
I like that option...and epending upon the class you are teaching, you might want to show more than one example to further drive home the point and perhaps reach different students at a deeper level as each will resonate with visuals differently.
Students have a bit of fear and apprehension up front, so when you do this on the first day of class, you allow them to settle in better.
By demonstrating the types of work the students will encounter presently and in the near future, it serves a few purposes:
1-what types of products the students will create themselves.
2-examples (possibly good and bad)
3-allows students the ability to interact and share ideas and observations.
4-facilitates questions.
Hi Ron,
You can quickly tell if students are grasping the information based on their knowledge to utilize what has been taught.
Patricia Scales
Showing examples of student work: As a Marine Corps Combat dive instructor, I found it very useful to bring one or two students up to the front so that they could show how they come up with an answer when it came to dive physics. It kept the student activity in the class and it also shows me as an instructor if what I’m teaching is getting through to the students.
v/r
Ron
Hi Alison,
Examples add great clarity! Most students need a visual to gain full understanding.
Patricia Scales
I like this idea of showing examples of previous work. It really gives student's a good idea of what the course expectations are.
Hi Dave,
I concur! Visual adds great clarity.
Patricia Scales
I have found showing my students examples of work sets the expectation as to what I would like to see from them as their instructor. I clears up any confusion they may have as to what type of work is acceptable.
Hi Eleanor,
I concur! If students can see it, they have a better understanding as to what is expected.
Patricia Scales
It is important to provide examples of student works so students can have a clearer expectation how a final product should look like. Students learn from guidance, direction, as well as having a tangible copy.
Hi Yesenia,
Examples provide for a better understanding as to what is required of the student.
Patricia Scales
It is helpful to show students examples of the work they will be doing so that they have a clear understanding of the expectations. For some students, it may be their first college course and they are not familiar with the guidelines. Students who are unaware may feel overwhelmed and lost, which can result in them dropping the course.
