My teach strategy has recently changed
One way that I have recently changed how I am giving information is by watching the students who have been through my classes before. I realized, after watching those students, that they weren't doing some of the things that I was sure I had taught them. My honest first thought was that they were just being lazy. Yes, that is harsh, but it was what I felt. It couldn't possibly be my fault they weren't doing what they were supposed to. WRONG!!!! The truth is that I had failed them. So now I have gone back and looked at what I am teaching, how I am teaching it, and who I am teaching it to. This has been a very recent adjustment, and it will be a little while before I see the results of these changes. I can only hope these changes will be helpful, and that my students will benefit from them. I guess one of the things I have learned is that how I teach what I teach should constantly be changing if it isn't working. Sounds simple, I guess, but it takes some of us longer to see what is right in front of us, unfortunately.
I notice this also with my students. I think it is a combination of sometimes needing to change strategy and also if they haven't applied and practiced the knowledge they may forget it. Some students need to be taught in a completely different way than others and the only way to find that out is by observing them and then you can change the way you teach. That's what I love about teaching...always changing and growing.
Matthew,
I agree. Repetition can serve as a great tool for increasing the students' retention of information. In addition, I feel that assigning activities/assessments that require students to apply their subject-knowledge, will also serve as a great tool for enabling them to commit it to memory.
Tremayne Simpson
In response to both this comment and the previous: I agree with the statements and thoughts. I have too noticed that some of my students, after being taught in one of my classes, have done things different in later teachings. Some may be lazy but others may have forgotten, or are in need of more practice. You learn my doing and repetition is the key to success when honing a skill. Some students obviously need more practice than others even for the most menial skills.
Duane,
Thank you for sharing this with the group. This can also reveal to an instructor that their students have not reached a higher-level within the learning taxonomy. Although the instructor may believe that the students are ready to apply their knowledge, perhaps they are still in need of more development with basic course content.
Tremayne Simpson
Duane,
Thank you for sharing this with the group. This can also reveal to an instructor that their students have not reached a higher-level within the learning taxonomy. Although the instructor may believe that the students are ready to apply their knowledge, perhaps they are still in need of more development with basic course content.
Tremayne Simpson
