I look at four areas for my presentation vehicle, pretty much in this order.
First, can it convey the information I want to share?
Second, what learning style am I addressing?
Third, what are the opportunities for student engagement/participation?
And last, how will I measure if it is working?
Hi Tim:
This is a very interesting activity. It may not be applicable in every setting but it is definitely a very creative use of the technology.
What also stands out is the active participation created by the 3-D living component. It's said that the more senses you can involve in the learning process the more likely the student is to learn and remember.
Good post - Barry
The Instructor needs to use all of the media available. I have started a power point lecture, stopped after 5 slides and go to the lab. In the lab start on a project based on the lecture for 30 mintues and go back to the power point. I call these "Labtures". It gets the students out of their seats and reinforces the subject. I have gone throught a power point slide, mute the projector, raise the screen and draw a basic diagram on the board. The next step is to have the students come up to the board with the actual componets and now you have a 3-D living componet in action. There are a lot of possibilities to brain storm on.
My school actually has a rather rigorously organized curriculum that is standardized for each level (I teach English as a Foreign Language). But once a month we show a movie in English to our students (with English subtitles) and my colleagues and I have decided that comedies geared to a family audience (not children, however) are best. Since comedy relies on the visual as much as the verbal, it assists our students, who mostly come from Asia (Korea - 90%) and have taken at least 6 years of middle and high school English.
Other than that, time only permits Field Trips, with the proviso of selecting and passing out easy-to-read guides to the museums and other cultural destinations we visit.
I would like to incorporate the idea presented in the CAPPS course of passing out questionnaires regarding field trips that encourage the students to keep on track (not spend too much time speaking in their native language, etc ... )
Hi Ron:
You're right. In fact, very few learners rely on only one learning style, and use an amalgamate of the three primary learning styles and the multiple intelligencies.
The more senses that are introduced into the learning plan, the more likely the student will recall and use the information appropriately.
Good point - Barry
Although the choice of media can be fairly simple, the instructor must still keep in mind that there are auditory and visual learners in every class. Therefore, while using visuals such as the overhead projector or PowerPoint may be beneficial to some, the instructor must not simply have the student read the information - the auditory learners must "hear" an expanded view of the points and have the opportunity for qestions.
I do everything I can to use the tools that my students will use in industry. I teach Engineering Drafting and Design and by presenting new lessons using the CAD tools we teach it enables them to not only learn by osmosis but gets them more comfortable more quickly with the tools.
I also use YouTube.com when discussing manufacturing as this is something all of the students are familiar with and the vids are generally short and sweet.
Chris
Hi George:
You're right! Relating to your students in the specific way they learn is almost always going to improve your student's performance.
Regards, Barry
By focuseing on the four learning styles.
Hi David:
Yes, Manuel does have a good point about the use of "customized" PPT's. A word of caution would be to avoid too much customization of publisher prepared slides. These are usually prepared by experts, and there might be the possibility of ruining the point expressed in the publisher PPT.
It would be better to just create a different slide if too much alteration is going to be made.
Regards, Barry Westling
Hi Manuel:
PPT's have certainly enterend the mainstream of contemporary education. Your point about customizing them is a good one, and demonstrates both the creativity and flexibility that technology affords active instructors.
What I've found with PPT's is sometimes there is too much information on a given slide, the slide goes by too fast, or information on the slide is incomplete.
One way to approach slides is to keep each slide to one point, with 2-3 complementary bullet points, or a enlarged segment of a diagram.
Regards, Barry Westling
Hi Tim:
Wanting and being able to connect with your students is an extremely important attribute of effective instruction. The challenge is being accurate in selecting the media appropriate for your class.
Regards, Barry Westling
Hello George:
Can you provide an example or two how you can keep students focused?
Barry Westling
Hello Brian:
You are correct that involving students will help their learning. Using as many senses in the instructional process will augment the lesson you're trying to present.
Involved students are engaged in what they're doing, which implies they're thinking about the topic. Thinking and learning are inter-related.
Good point.
Regards, Barry Westling
Hi Scott:
Often the question will be "what is the best presentation method?". After clear objectives are defined then we need to look at what resources are needed and what resources are available.
Unfortunately, sometimes we have to work with less than what's needed whether that be human, physical, or technolical resorces.
Tools are extremely helpful, yet even with the best presentation resources, if the students are not getting the message we've missed the point as educators.
Regards, Barry Westling
I feel the same way Mr. Garcia
My main reason is being familiar with the technology. For example power point, at the institute where I teach we have pre-assembled presentations, however I am able to manipulate them to my teaching style and implement material that I may think is missing for my class. Also comfort with the media and aiding in instruction.
It is key for me to select the right media so that i connect with all of the students not just a percentage of them.
Focused on learning is key!
To help keep the students involed and see what you are teaching them.
