Observing student behaviour
When students come into our classroom for the first time, they may feel intimidated, unprepared or even unsure (of the surroundings, the new instructor or new classmates). We often have students from all walks of life, of different ages and educational backgrounds.
As an instructor, it is up to us provide an environment that they feel they can learn at ease. Having a plan 'a' and a plan 'b' to customize to the students makes sense as not everyone is created the same. Plan 'b' also helps to bring the off-focus students back in check.
I often create Q&A games every few weeks in order to determine the progress of their learning and in so doing, I can see if my teaching methods are on track as well.
Every so often, when I have students who are fast learners, I may run out of content; but from now on, I will get ready trays of different products that I can test them as a 'Product ID' evaluation. This will in turn, help reinforce the mateial they have been taught in class.
Hi Elizabeth:
This is a great technique to have the stronger students help teach others who may have difficulty comprehending the material.
Many instructors use this very useful technique with a lot of succuess.
Regards, Barry
Hi Bee,
These techniques are a great example of the instructor coming prepared, while at the same time shows that the instructor is aware of this potential intimidation you describe in new students.
Regards,
Barry
Hi Tammy:
I'm a big fan of peer teaching, for the reasons you describe and also because the moere involved the student is in their own learning, the more meaningful and memorable that lesson or inforamtion will be to them.
Regards, Barry
I love using the peer teaching. It gets the students up and in front of their peers and makes them take more notice of what they are learning. It also gives them the opportunity to use what they are learning and see if they can explain it to someone else. I also love getting examples of situations from my students because sometimes my examples don't make sense to some of the students and another student says it a different way and they have that "aha" moment.
I tend to find that if there are students who are fast learners, or seem to absorb the material quickly, they do well in teaching the material to the other students. Basically a little peer tutoring session.
This is of course dependent upon whether the "fast learner" is the type who is able to tutor or work with other students, but I've found that in many situations, it works perfectly.
