There is just so much media out there to use. I select media that I think is related to lesson topics, but more importantly interesting. If it is interesting to the students it is much easier to relate topics and ideas to the media and use it as a springboard for learning. It is not so important that the media fits perfectly into the lesson. It is important that the instructor can take it and make it relate to the lesson.
I try to bring any equipment, demo, and pass it around the room instead of just talking about it.
This gives a real hands on and brings pictures to life. I do this whenever possible which adds to power point and other media.
Thank you for this discussion.
I used PowerPoint media in my class. The text books I teach already come with PowerPoint presentation, but I always end up modifying or deleting most of the slides. I teach both EHR and Medical Billing software. So, to help students understand better to some of the points in the PowerPoint presentation, I go back and forth between the software and the presentation. Almost all students prefer this way than lecturing from the PowerPoint presentation only.
I choosse info that is easy to understand and keeps on target during discussions
Candace,
For me, a good PPT slide has just a few bullet points that allow me to teach and elaborate on the subject. I have gone an hour with 1-2 slides, but also have 40-slide presentations designed for a 30 minute time slot. Even so, my slides are as simple and brief, 7X7 rule (no more than 7 lines, and no more than 7 words per line). PPT should be a tool. Like a craftsman, it's their expertise that matters, not the tools they use.
Barry Westling
PowerPoint is a good method of delivery, but I often get wrapped up in my discussion and forget to change the slides. Sometimes I elicit the help of a student to change the slides as we progress
afework,
I think this is true. Probably the best way to be consistent in selecting media is to base what we use on the course objectives and learning outcomes. These days there so many instructional media selections to choose from, its really a case of which resources (from the many available) will do the best job at this time with these students. Each class will undoubtely vary some.
Barry Westling
selecting instructional media may be based on the volume, type and the complexity(hardiness or easiness) of the subject.
Sabina,
These days there so many effective media choices, it's really deciding which ones are most appropriate to use - not because there is a lack of them.
Barry Westling
i use a media as a suuportive only.
Sabina,
What we choose to use to supplement our lessons can determine the failure or fulfilment of a succesful student outcome.
Barry Westling
Media as a part of curriculum is a very supporive
Shining,
Good varaitaion. I think we always have to be sensititive to "what is the best way to teach this subject to these students at this time". It will vary each time, and using a variety of media will encourage participation and retention of needed information by the students. PPT is a great tool, but is limited unless the instructor uses this tool to supplement their lectures and accompany other instructional media. Too many times reading PPT slides with too much information is considered the lecture, and this is probably the least effective methods for learning.
Barry Westling
It depends on the course content and my students' academic level. For example, I started to use PPT slides at the very beginning of one course. This course was hard to my students and my students were not good at note-taking. Then I had to use white board and handouts. These made them feel more comfortable with the course.
Susan,
If there was time, collaborative learning and interactive discussion would attract and maintain the focus of most students. Since abundant time is not always available, these activities in small doses or occupying a small part of class is better than the static "lecture and listen".
Barry Westling
Our media is part of our curricculum. We cannot deviate from it, but, we can enhance it. These enhancements have to come from the mfr. that produces the product we teach about.
I try to remember that are different kinds of learners and multiple intelligences. I try and select a variety of media for content delivery for every classroom. I think that teachers often rely to heavily on powerpiont instruction. We should show videos, occasionally write in the board, and remember that collaborative learning is important as well.
...Well noted..Thanks Barry!
Hi Timothy,
Great. You're demonstarting a variety of media delievery strategies that make the class more interesting and probably more interactive. This sounds like a class where I would like be a student.
Barry Westling
In my class, I like to provide a variety of different types of media for lecture and demonstration. When demonstrating the act of taking acoustic measurement, I use audio examples of different test signals along with a visual of the measurement software. I tend to accompany lectures with Power Point presentations which lets me show various charts and graphs. For discussions, I go to the white board which gives me the ability to draw out specific examples of problems we're trying to solve.
