Selecting instructional media
How do you select media for content delivery?
Nancy,
There's so much media available these days, you have to consider what is the "best" way to promote understanding. Sometimes, simple is best. We have to consider the audience.
Barry Westling
The content of material that I present is biology and evidenced based material. I really like to incorporate videos that I find through the internet, (trusted sources) that incorporate the points discussed in lecture.
Darlene,
Over the years I've adopted this loose personal standard: for each PPT slide I plan to use there will be a commensurate degree of oral discussion. For me this helps provide a balance that promotes thinking, retention of information, and overall, better learning outcomes.
Barry Westling
As a new nursing instructor, I plan to use mostly powerpoints to summarize major points, there is a lot of material to cover. I hope to bring in some printouts of case studies also to break things up. Lab time is set aside for demonstrations.
Reanna,
Yeah, I think that's why some refer to our work as "the art and science of...".
Barry Westling
As a massage therapy instructor, I select my instructional media based on the subject being taught. I feel like my students seeing numerous different ways to do a specific stroke, will benefit in the long run. No 2 people massage the same way, so seeing someone else in class, via media, is a great way to get the diversity.
Linda,
Giving students some part of the decision as to what methods they prefer can be a helpful approach, as there may be more commitment to participate when the students have a stake in the decision and outcome.
Barry Westling
Selecting only course sensitive material is very important to the student learning the subject of study and staying on point to that suject not to wonder off track.
It not only depends on the class you are teaching, but the adult learners that you have in the class. I really try different methods and then I check back with my students to ask them which ones they feel are more effective.
In a trade school PPP.s are fantastic for grabbing the students attention and talking about them helps there learning because most trade school students are cognitive learners. they need visual to learn
Lisa,
Variety rules when it comes to media. Keeping students Interested, engaged and satisfied with the instructional process is a smoother process when variety is used, along with shorter segments of one particular delivery method.
Barry Westling
It is important to vary media during the course. It not only keeps it interesting, it will help to reach students that are may not be effectively instructed by one particular method.
Cynthia,
Engaging sincere but tired students takes diligence by both instructor and class. Stories that have a message related to topic are always a good way to get inside the students mind, and as a result, more apt to produce meaninful discussions and memorable lesson material.
Barry Westling
Not only do I teach evening students, but I teach the last class of the evening, so by that time, my students are tired from having worked all day and they are basically "brain dead" from having 1-2 classes before mine.
I know just lecturing won't be an effective way to reach them, so I aim for "fun" media that will get them involved. I have used real stories from my job, clips from recent movies and I will also sometimes give them an assignment to watch a particular show before coming to class and we then break into groups to discuss the theories we discussed and how they apply in the world.
Raymond ,
These are sound points. I think classes go better when we keep the student in mind, dishing out only what most students can take at one time.
Barry Westling
The most important point is to keep it subject sensitive and not to go off on several different directions of media instructions. stay focused on the subject being taught,show two or three really powerful and interesting procedures that are being studyed, ask questions about what was seen and heard. students will retain more from less.
Laura,
Yeah, selecting media needs to include all factors, including the ability for students to relate to and be receptive to the material and delivery style.
Barry Westling
This is an area where I am trying to make better choices. Our instructor's resources contain PowerPoint slides, but for some subjects a large amount of lecture with these slides doesn't always work. I was losing the students, especially at night, after a long day before they came to school. I call it "Death by PowerPoint." I have been trying out other media when it is appropriate for the objectives and content. I have included small video presentations from DVDs and this term I have also had guest speakers and that has worked really well.
Keith,
Great -- as long as the slides contribute to the instruction, and the instructors message is achieved.
Barry Westling
