I also bring in food because by class starts so late and it seem to get them motivated quicker.
I also give case scenarios. I find real life situations help students need that
True, I have my students come back after their externship and talk to the class about their experience and what they would have done different, what they have to focus on more and what they have learned. It helps my current students to believe that they are so close to reaching their goal and helps those that are ready to give up to stay in school and try harder knowing that they can do it too.
Hi Ripsime,
Students can sometimes reach each other better than the instructor can reach the student.
Patricia
I agree, that really works in their advantage. Also, there is always something to learn from one another.
Hi Ripsime,
I like to assign groups whenever group projects are assigned to ensure academic abilities are balanced as well. I make sure to also have someone who has leadership ability in the group as well.
Patricia
I teach Medical Assisting/Billing and Coding. Here is a situation and an example of an analytical question: You have an irate patient who has no appointment, but just walked into the office and is demanding to be seen. The office is packed with patients and the doctor is way behind the schedule. To top this all two other employees called in sick. "How would you handle this"?
I love to sit back and listen to student’s discussions. They are so creative! :-)
I like to give them scenarios, such as "Difficult Patient' or "Irate Patient" I break them into groups and have them come out with a solution. They have to role play the scenario. Helps them use their critical thinking skills in difficult situations and learn from it.
I like to engage students in group projects. Each one of them is responsible to complete the assigned task. Research activities allow them a great active learning experience. It is always best to assign the groups, as students tend to bond with each other. The new students get to know the current ones and also learn the importance of the team playing.
Hi Chris,
This is a very interesting exercise. It really gives one something to think about. The exercise serves to be very practical because someone in almost every household purchases chicken to eat. We really do pay for convenience (cut up chicken as opposed to whole chicken).
Patricia
I like to make students go out and price chickens whole or cut up in markets
I teach Microsoft Office and I try to keep it practical for the students. I ask questions during lecture that pertain to practical use of the applications.
Hi Anthony,
I am sure your students have great fun with this activity because most people enjoy food and at the same time you are really making them think outside of the box.
Patricia
In my cooking course, the students must consider a dish in its traditional form of preparation. Then they must break the dish down to its component parts. Finally, they must modify one or more of the components in order to re-assemble it in a new and personally interpreted version.
Hi Greg,
I totally agree! I feel both the how and why are both important. Students really have a better appreciation for the how once they understand the why.
Patricia
Patricia,
Very true. One of the great dangers of online learning is the "training" approach to education. Training teaches us "how" to do something while education teaches us "why" we do it. The two must coelesce in order to achieve the ultimate endstate.
Supporting your position through analysis transforms the simple "we should do it this way" to "based on my research and analysis, a better way to proceed is..."
My thoughts anyway. It seems to work fairly well and gives the learner a stake in the proposed outcome.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Greg
Hi Gregory,
This is certainly a grand way of teaching students how to support their position. Students have to dig deep and research thoroughly to provide supporting details. Our students need to learn as much about research and anlayzing data as possible.
Patricia
I teach a class on our Foreign Policy. Very similar to Alisa (previous post), I try to ask several questions in the discussion forum.
1. What is the current policy for a given country/region?
2. What is lacking or what is working?
3. What would they recommend to align the policy with our Nation's interests?
One of the most important aspects of the discussion is to have the student research their answer and provide references. This prevents straight opinion and forces the student to support their position with research and analysis.
Greg
Hi Alisa,
This is a super approach! Students can certainly learn a lot from their peers. These three questions alone really tell you how much your students have learned. This is a great learning/testing experience for your students.
Patricia
In a Sanitation and Food Safety class that I teach online, I like to present students with case scenarios. Many of these scenarios have multiple issues to consider. I always ask the students three questions:
1. Discuss what was done correctly.
2. Discuss what was done incorrectly.
3. Discuss what you would do if you were the manager in this situation or the colleague that noticed the behavior.
The first two questions force the students to analyze the facts presented and apply the information we have covered. Information is cumulative, so cases contain references back to previous topics, allowing them to build on prior knowledge. The last questions asks the student to apply this situation to their own lives, thus reinforcing the material and making it more relatable.
Once all students have presented their initial analysis, I look for themes or issues that were missed, but instead of pointing them out directly, I ask that student to read the post of another that did address the issue and comment on their classmate's analysis. This helps them learn from each other, again reinforcing the topic.
