I really appreciate the instruction on Power Point presentations. I'm excited to get started on the use of PP presentations and will be happy to draw from what I've learned today on Max Knowledge.
Katelyn,
Great! I'll have students come up to the white board to make responses to the PPT slide being projected too (same technique was used for years using the overhead projector). Involving the students is prefered to me doing all the work. Sometimes students will complain about "the glare" from the slides on the whiteboard (which is a legitimate problem, especially for those sitting near the center of the class).
Barry Westling
Powerpoint is my best friend, using powerpoint on a white board is excellent too, that why I can also write on the slide or draw picture too.
Patti,
Variety, especially electronic (PPT, video, You-Tube) really does add to enhance the learning environment. Changing the delivery format frequently (especially during longer classes) also helps. I try to only use what I feel will add to the instruction, not use it just because I have it and its available.
Barry Westling
I select media based on the content of the course and the effectiveness on the students. The media is designed to help the student learn the material that is being presented. The media should ultimitly reflect the objectives and make learning appeal to the student.
Dorothy,
All resources and media that contribute to student learning is wonderful, and it's good that some instructors (like yourself) are able to appreciate the time, effort, and materials that have been allocated for student learning by the college administration.
Barry Westling
I teach nursing and I feel very fortunate that we have laptops with a projector in all of our classrooms. It allows for using powerpoints but also you youtube etc has become a valuable tool for hearing adventitious lung sounds, and heart irregularities, etc in my nursing class. I am able to let the class HEAR instead of describing what the irregularity "sounds" like. Also we have a lab that allows students to practice hands on skills backed by theory. In addition, we have large white boards available in the classrooms. Again I feel very fortunate I have this media available as it makes teaching much easier to appeal to students' varied senses.
Penny,
Too much of any one type of media will begin to lose students. The rule of 20's suggests that changing the delivery method or instructional activity about every 20 minutes will improve student focus and attention.
Barry Westling
I prefer digital media, include video and PPT presentation.
Trinity,
PPT slides can be powerful as a tool for learning, and also overused by instructors. I make sure the lights in the room are on, and I use the black-out switch to explain, elaborate, and convey ideas. I think students begin to lose attention if a PPT slide discussion goes on too long.
Barry Westling
I am a big fan of power point. Students love to see it in pictures. However, I am also a big believer in bringing examples to class. Examples often bring the hands-on, tactile learning to the room.
Of course I use the wipe board. I use it, like the guy in the video to list their answers, show relationships and explain concepts.
Nicole,
Great! Keeping attention with variety is the best way to engage students, especially in longer classes (and for evening classes). There something called the Rule of 20's, which implies that the media, delivery method or activity in a class should change up about every 20 minutes, as that is about the average attention span. Longer periods are OK, but it will be more difficult for students to give their full attention. Sometimes, just a break by sharing a story from the workplace setting is all that is needed, because we just want to sort of reset the students mindset.
Barry Westling
I teach 4 hour evening classes and thus it is important to implement several different media sources in order to keep the student's attention. Of course, PowerPoints are one of my favorite choices but I also utilize videos, handouts, and online sources.
Alan,
Sounds like your class would be interesting, because all the mentioned activities are conducive to better student engagement and add interest to the material being presented. Students like variety, especially when it involves some relevance to information they are already familiar with.
Barry Westling
Depending on the course I'm teaching, I will use articles from publications, magazines, and newspapers that are current and/or relevant to the instruction. I create Power Point/Keynote presentations that are designed to get major points across. Since I teach advertising, I might show Quicktime videos of TV commercials both past and present.
Lynne,
All media should serve to put key information into the student's minds eye. When that occurs, it's probably there for good. So I choose media that'll help understanding and memory, much as you describe.
Barry Westling
Selecting media should help enhance the lecture. For example, when talking about the anatomy of the heart, having a model that the students can see and touch is extremely helpful so they can see how all the parts connect. Just standing in front of the class describing the heart isn't as effective.
James,
This reminds me of an important instructional technique which is to take something the students already know and add to it, and by doing so, the student is likely to remember more. So while variety in media is important, selecting the most relevant resources are ever so more important and valuable.
Barry Westling
I teach in a music school. A lot of the media I use are recordings of popular songs. I try to use a wide variety of genres. This way no one gets bored hearing the same type of thing over and over again. The students have even remarked that they appreciated all the different styles I've used. If they know the songs it pulls them in even farther.
Lindsey,
I think we're all visual learners, some just prefer or receive visual information in a way that helps them remember. As instructors, we are always trying to get an idea or image into the student's mind eye. With short video's that's accomplished immediately. Interjecting short video's between other activities helps keep classes lively and interesting too.
Barry Westling
