Hi Melissa:
No matter waht media is used, we should be using it effectively. Many pedagogy enthusiasts agree that no matter what, use a variety of styles.
Regards, Barry
Hi Leslie:
This sounds like a very interesting way to keep those students engaged. I wish more instructors would think about this idea of keeping students engaged. We can all understand how less contemporary models of instruction may no longer be appropriate or effective in today's classroom.
Regards, Barry
Hi Warren:
You are describing the use of several different teaching techniques, something considered imperative for adult learners.
Regards, Barry
I try to incorporate tools and parts from my business into my classroom training so that the students can get hands-on experience with items they may not see in the classroom otherwise.
Hi Robert:
Students learn best when they are involved in the instructional process. After working long hours, a good technique is to get the student to instruct themselves and or their classmates. This will help keep them interested and engaged without unneded focus on being tired. Just an idea.
Regards, Barry
Many if not most of my students have worked 8-10 hours prior to attending my classes. I use varied methods to enhance my lectures and a little razzle dazzle in order to keep them awake. PowerPoints come in handy often along with videos and liberal use of the smartboard. Demonstrations are important as well as hands-on experience.
I still find creating my own PowerPoint presentation base on the lecture as the best instructional media. It allows me to add illustration from other sources, display flow chart demonstrations, and highlight areas of interest easy. I also find it easy to move around the classroom during lectures without loosing the student’s interest. The PowerPoint format is easy to follow and very user friendly. I also use video demonstrations and reference the text book as other sources.
I try to think of what sources of media students use these days and incorporate that into my lecture. I think its a direct way of getting there attention, and involve them in the class setting as well as when they go home, it ties them together. It could be a new software that students are using or a website that they refer to, it helps to make a connection with them.
Well, I use the whiteboard and ppt presentations. I really assess my students as I am lecturing, should I see the heavy eyelids coming on, then that is a trigger for me to turn the lights on and take my lecture to the board and engage the students and participate. Getting them invove with the lesson seems to help when ppt does not.
I often use powerpoints and short video clips. The courses that I specialize in present various theories and concepts to students. For hands-on learners or students who are not used to learning theories, these can be very challenging courses. I try to incorporate short video clips from pop culture, the news, and research to demonstrate the points. When selecting these clips, I make sure they are appropriate and that all students will be able to understand them. I read the content carefully and then play the clip for myself. If it makes sense and fits well, then I incorporate it into the class.
I try to use several different formats in conjunction to "paint" an overall picture. by using youtube video, demonstration, class discussion, poweropoint, I hope to appeal to various learning styles while keeping the students brains continually transitioning. I find that this constant change is similar to what they may find in their work enviornment and in addition to being a good learning tool, it is a positive training tool as well.
Why I stress that attendance is important is that my teaching style is of a demonstrative type. I find I try and use analogies that best describe my course content with common well known references and diagrams and charts are drawn on the whiteboard while I am presenting the information. My question though is that should the way information is presented in class be altered while the class is currently in session to accommodate students (i.e. If students are not preforming to the level you would like on examinations given)
I first started my first class of teaching with powerpoint and some interactive classwork-whiteboard, discussion, etc. Over the course of the term my students made it clear that they were learning more from me when I was not using the powerpoint slides except for case studies I prepared. "I was on my game" more when teaching from the book,high classroom interaction, and sharing my professional experience in the field for wich they were preparing. I learned a great deal from my students who conversely all did well in my course.
I feel comfortable using PowerPoint presentations in class. It allows me to reinforce the ideas/concepts while I am generating the ppt. It also helps me to develop commentary during the production of the ppt.
Hi Lisa:
Here again, in your example, we see a good example of how a variety of approaches may best serve the students in that we all learn in different ways.
Regards, Barry
From an instructors perspective, I really enjoy using PP presentations. I find the content flows easily and there are so many options that can be inserted to capture the students attention. However; I think students can develop PP "fatigue". To rely solely on PP for every class gets tedious for the students. Using transparencies, writing on the board, bringing posters, models, etc. helps to switch things up and keep student interest alive with variety.
Hi Donald:
I think that no matter what the media used, as long as it engages the student and they have a stronger understanding of the material, we have achieved our primary goal.
Regards, Barry
Hi Frances:
If the instructor can engage the students, then probably ANY presentation media will work. Each one has advantages - white board and overheads are great for visual learners.
Regards, Barry
I use what we have and try to be creative.
The selection of media used in class should have a direct correlation to the percentages of different types of learners you have in the room.
One size does not fit all in this case.
Understanding the various demographics of your class, then matching that to the predominant style of learning that would have been popular during their school years is most helpful. Also looking at the types and styles of advertising media for that period as well, would give strong indications of the most successful methods of delivery.
Also it is a plus if the instructor has either public speaking training to assist in use of those mediums to drive the information.
