Identifying your own "blind spots"
After every assessment I give, I try to identify areas that many of the students may have been confused about and I ask myself what I could have done better in presenting this material. I try to identify my 'blind spot' in my instructional method. How do you identify your 'blind spot'?
Rosa,
Good teachers always have at least two or three ways to facilitate learning.
Jeffrey Schillinger
I use what I call my two-way teach. I usually teach the "textbook" method and then present to my students a "real-world" method of teaching so that I reach each student. One method may work for student while the other method will work for another.
Susan,
Thanks for this post. It is a good idea to alsways have at least one alternative way to present information just in case method one did not work. Sometimes that is a handout. Sometimes it is an analogy. Often, having a student try to explain to another student is effective.
Jeffrey Schillinger
I do the same thing. I can see areas that students were not very clear on and even though in my mind I presented the information very clearly I sometimes find that a few students were not "getting it" and I have to rethink my teaching strategies and review material.
I always try to ask the students for positive feedback to meet their needs. I also have blind spots.
I repeat and review key concepts on a weekly basis, especially in lecture. The students are tested in some form on their retention of these concepts. I try and present the concepts in dfferent ways to reach all my students HABEs and any blind spots I might have or inadvertently created.
I find this topic interesting because i have my own blind spots that i can now see. I usually like many students can't see the other door when one closes. My mind gets set on a path and when that doesnt work i can't find the detour or alternate route. After recognizing my blind spot i have worked hard at fixing that problem and changing my mindset.
Brooke,
Students have much to share if we give them a safe alternative to do so.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Very interesting topic.. Until now I realize the importance of asking the students and finding away they feel comfortable in giving opinions. Because at the end of the day we need some response to make us better educators.
Robert,
What you are doing is one good way, but the students may have already been tested. One thing you might try is having students write about the clearest and muddiest point at the end of each lesson or as an assignment submitted electronically before the next class.
Jeffrey Schillinger
