Students backgorund
Diversification could be a great tool if the instructor knows how to properly meet the needs of each students by engaging them to share their experience in class.
Aileen,
Terrific. Situations, examples from the work setting, or unusual or unexpected circumstances help make for interesting classes.
Barry Westling
James,
Wonderful! Good instructors are usually capable of taking personal experiences and using that to seamlessly integrate or suggest an applicable situation or teaching point related to the topic. Personalizing will always make for more interesting and memorable learning sessions.
Barry Westling
Good point. I may start implementing this more by coming up with case scenarios based off the examples given by them. Will definetely keep them more interested.
I've found that student experience (if they choose to share it) can be a great ice-breaker. In fact it has helped me to design student centered curriculum based on the reality that students will work harder to achieve something if they feel it directly relevant to their experience.
Afua,
Yes, many times students will naturally become a family, of sorts, where they willingly share information. Unfortunately, sometimes cliques form, and relationships are less than wonderful. But like any family, not everything is perfect all the time. I think an instructors role, in part, is to bring the whole class together with emphasis and focus on their learning needs.
Barry Westling
