I vary my presentations through all different forms of delivery. Tried an experiement where I set up a powerpoint and a large stack of "reference material" for me. The students focused on the large stack of material more than the presentation (how much more of this? seemed to be their feeling, judging by the look on their faces). The next day I set up the pp and had only a small stack of papers. The students definitely were more focused on the material! My belief is that the class didn't have to be concerned with being overwhelmed with material.
Renee,
This is great. Relating to how best to reach your students is a perfect way to plan and carry out your desire for maximum learning and outcomes. These days, we have to be selective with media becasue there is so much out there that is available, some good, some great, but always not so useful to our mission and goals for our students.
Barry Westling
I select media for content delivery to students by considering the following: Who are my students? What do they need to know? How can I best teach them what they need to know so that they will learn the material and have it be relevant to them? Will my students find the medium useful and interesting? Once I can answer these questions, I select my media choices based on the answers (as well as by what media is available to me that I am trained to use). I will seek out additional training, if necessary, to utilize new media at my school.
James,
Awesome! This much variety is really key to keeping students engaged and actively participating.
Barry Westling
I use everything and anything I can to keep my students interested. There is too much ppt and not enough posters, pictures, toys to play with and see. I bounce from media to media every 10-15 minutes.
I never rely on something on the screen. I always flick on the lights and discuss or move out to the lab and use hands on practice to illustrate the point.
Sonya,
Great. Making the lesson interesting and applicable to their training helps keep interest, and also provides for improved trust and respect to the teacher, as students will feel their instructor is trying to make the course material useful.
Barry Westling
Most of the lesson plans that I have access to have media already incorporated in the lesson that I can choose from. I also search the internet to find ideas for interesting clips that could possibly be incorporated in the lesson.
Charity,
This sounds like a good mix of instructor-led media along with PPT back-up. I use PPT to guide me through the main points of a lesson. I avoid trying to put all the material on slides (there are better ways to give students writtem material to read). For me, PPT is just an extension of the white board, which I rely on as extension of my thoughts and the lesson points. I'll go to dark to break up my presentation for a discussion, a demonstration, or another activity, then return to the slides, repeating this throughout the lesson. Variety helps keep students focus and attention.
Barry Westling
Willis,
There are so many media resources out there these days, we have to be careful we're choosing the "best", not just "satisfactory" resources. Better are those media and delivery methods that maximally reach the students in an interesting way, keeping them engaged while providing the needed material. I've learned that lots of variety helps keep students interest.
Barry Westling
I teach in the audio department, so I am constantly using music samples to get points across. In most of my classes, I challenge my students to step outside of the box by viewing various videos that show them a world of possibilities beyond what they were thinking. In addition, I find power points to work well because if a student missed a point or a class--they have an opportunity to view the powerpoint and catch up on the lessons (which are posted in the students' portal).
I instruct a multitude of courses-from Social Psycholgy-Nutrition and Food Service Facilities Design, among many others. Our institution has been generous in providing the autonomy necessary to effectively meet instructional objectives. I use PowerPoint, but in a limited capacity.I utilize 'snippets' from YouTube and excerpts from films that are relevant to subject matter. Rarely, do I show a full length film due to time constraints.
Brenda,
Right, and the more variety we can use contributes to more interesting classes and potentially better retention of needed information.
Barry Westling
Using different methodology to deliver instruction is important to keeping your students engaged, not to mention in helping the learning process.
Of course the type of media that is used is largely dependent on the topic. There are some topics where PPT is good to use, while there are some where interjecting short videos to reinforce a concept is appropriate.
Terry,
Everyone appreciates a lighthearted moment when in the throws of a tedious instructional period.
Barry Westling
Terry,
Right. We can try to control innappropriate uses of technology. Over time, I have found that "self-regulation" works best. Through the lens of professionalism and "the rules", I depend on, and give responsibility for compliance back to the student. Then if there are problems, it's a behavioral thing on their part, not a nagging problem from me.
Barry Westling
I agree. I try to include current news or funny stories in my regular PowerPoint to break up the tediouness of difficult material.
Yes, technology is advancing at breakneck speed. It is so much easier to use technology today than just a short time ago. I have noticed over the last 2-3 years it is getting much more difficult to regulate cell phones in class. At class breaks, EVERYONE is using their cell phones. One instructor has confiscated phones during class that are being used. I try to continually observe students during class or during exams.
Leon,
I choose what I think are the best media and learning resources for the current students, in the current class, at the current time. These may be different than previous classes, and frequently are. I feel you have to connect with your students where they are, and as you find them.
Barry Westling
It depends on the subject matter.
Many have been PowerPointed to death and some students go to sleep.
When the topics require detail or critical thinking discussions, sometimes it is better to write on board, consult handouts, etc.
Leon Guendoo
Andrew,
PPT along with other media (whiteboad, web-links, DVD's) and acitivities such as small group dicussions, share-pair, etc. all work together to make for an interesting and interactive delivery presentation. We need to keep students engaged and to keep the students mind occupied, changing either the activity or modififying the current activity about every 20-30 minutes helps keep students focused. I limit DVD's unless they're very short and specific to my topic, as they tend to present information in a passive way (that allows students to zone out).
Barry Westling
