Hi Michael,
I think you make a great point that all students learn different, and it is up to us as instructors to implement effective lesson plans to promote their growth. I have found that depending on the class, my lessons have different effectiveness. I usually attempt to get to know the students in the beginning of the course, to find out their motivation and goals.
Understanding the learning styles of each student allows me to better tailor the learning environment to the students needs. It is an ongoing process throughout the course and requires a solid grasp on the primary learning styles. By providing multiple avenues of presentation I am able to reach each learner in a way that best suits their particular learning style.
After the first couple of classes I try to get to know each student and their individual personality traits. I try to combine lecture, group discussion and current events together in the same lecture which generally works well and pulls out of each student what style they prefer
I have come to realise that student do not learn the same way, so I always incorporate different teaching styles into my lesson plan.I lecture for the auditory learners, use power point presentation with pictures and diagrams for the visual learners,group works and projects for the hands on learners. I always end my classes with questions and answer session.
Cindy,
Assigning effective, collaborative activites can serve as a excellent method for adhering to various learning styles. It is interesting to see the "meshing" of ideas that come from a group of students with differing styles.
Tremayne Simpson
Cindy,
Assigning effective, collaborative activites can serve as a excellent method for adhering to various learning styles. It is interesting to see the "meshing" of ideas that come from a group of students with differing styles.
Tremayne Simpson
This is my second year as an instructor and I have learned that I do need to incorporate different learning styles. Before I would lecture and have students work hands-on. This year I am going to incorporate powerpoints and group activities into the classroom. Any other ideas would be welcome.
Because of the subject matter I teach (music production), it is fairly easy to create lesson plans that adhere to the various learning styles of my students.
I make sure that classes include some lectures and some hands-on time with the software. There are also plenty of reading materials which students download from the local server that we go over together in class.
I try to keep the lessons varied so everyone stays interested and focused on the material I'm presenting.
Kanisha,
What are some of the methods that you use during the class session, to adhere to all of the learning styles?
Tremayne Simpson
I make sure in every lesson
I use all learning syles so that each student will understand.
Harmony,
This sounds like an excellent activity for your students. While you are conducting the "one-on-ones", do you assign an activity to the other students that are waiting for their turn to interview?
Tremayne Simpson
I do a student-instructor "one-on-one" at the beginning and end of each term. I actually start it off as a mock interview for the field and then end with feedback from the students, ask where they need help, what works, what doesn't etc. It an overwhelming majority have a style or concern, I take time to readjust, and move on with course content and procedures based on those meetings.
Qadar,
Out of curiousity...since the courses begin every 16 days, how often do they meet on a weekly basis?
Tremayne Simpson
My school is a fast based school. That means we start a new course every sixteen class days. It is very difficult to know the learning style of my students, but I try to balance between the visual and auditory audience. For example, I teach Electronic Health Records software to Medical billing and Medical assistance students. The course is 90% hands-on and 10% lecture. In my lecture I go back and forth between the software and PowerPoint presentation. I take a survey in the second day of every new class to see if they like my teaching style. So far I have been getting positive feedback.
Being a culinary school, we utilize hands on, demos, videos, lecture,and homework (reading).
I feel that the diverse methods that we use work very well in reaching the students, as we cover many different learning styles.
There a serval learning styles therefore you have to be creative when it comes to creating lesson plans. Furthermore, i believe the lesson plans have to be interactive
Howard,
Providing them with the opportunity to discuss their previous experiences, can serve as indirect motivation for the other students in the class.
Tremayne Simpson
Pamela,
I agree that it is important to learn about the student characteristics, during the first day of class. In addition, their peers are able to learn about their characteristics as well, which can positively impact the classroom environment.
Tremayne Simpson
The main thing that I try to do is asset what my students know and how I can encourage them to rely on their learning experiences to further their knowledge in my case barbering. if the have previous shop experiance any management skills. how they react to thier clients and fellow employees. At my post retirement stage, I try to stay up with current teaching skills.
I think it is important to get to know your students in the first class. To know what plans they make for the future. Then create lesson plans that fit the objective and meet their needs.
