Hi Bryce,
I would offer another way of surveying your students. In my classes I give each student a 3x5 card and ask them to comment on course. I have them turn in the cards as they leave the classroom for the last time. The cards aren't signed so the students can comment freely. I get very good suggestions and the students aren't intimidated. With verbal responses they may not comment as freely as they might by writing down their comments.
Gary
Maybe I could verbally survey my students at the end of a course, to ask them how they liked the course and what they didn't like about it.
Reading student reviews and using those reviews to better deliver the course content for future classes.
Hi Patricia,
Great way to include everyone in the class. It is easy as you say to overlook quiet students when they are just as knowledgeable as others. By making the extra effort to engage them they know you care about their success.
Gary
I take ideas from others in training courses such as this. I like to keep students interested by chosing a differnt form of teaching throughout the term. Such as a movie, or limiting my powerpoints or having an interactive powerpoint that has students read or present something on a topic.
It is great to hear all the wonderful ideas for keeping students engaged. I think it is important they all get a chance to share some comment. I agree that just because they are quiet or don't join in doesn't necessarily mean they understand the subject. I try to make all students feel comfortable and improtant to the group by showing an interest in something they may have written or said that let's them know I heard them or that I know who they are in the group.
I try to stay flexible with my approach. I recognize that people learn differently and respond to different styles verbal, visual, etc. I also do not assume silence means that the student understands the subject but seek to have them demonstrate their understanding.
Be a good role model by demostrating career skills to be successful in their field of work.
In addition to reading evaluations and making changes based on that, I flat out ask students in class what their expectations are without focusing on me specifically so they don't feel put on the spot.
I teach math foundations and like to keep it relevant. I use the Internet daily looking at new strategies and projects available. Since I am lucky to have a smartboard in my class I like to use itto make my learning engaging, relevant and fun.
Hi Frances
What a great professional development plan you have going for you. You are constantly expanding your knowledge base both in your field and in your abilities. Keep up the good work.
Gary
I like to incorporate allot of visual aids and hands on. Group participation also
HI Dr. Greco,
Good plan. I agree with you about the need for students to express themselves both orally and in writing. I am always amazed at the level of ability or the lack thereof when I start a new group. Your method should be of great value to them both as college students and as career professionals. Keep up the good work.
Gary
When I first began teaching I found myself teaching just as I had been taught, modeling my previous instructors. I realized how important improving and developing my instructional style was because my students would probably do exactly the same thing when they started teaching in the classroom. I began to research various learning theories on-line, in professional journals, and at continuing education courses. I now try to continually develop my instructional style to meet the needs of the students' learning.
Student surveys are an excellent way to gauge the progress of a class. Yet, I often gauge the character of a class from the first day, and adjust my teaching methods accordingly. One constant is that I always use current events to involve students in the writing process. Reading and writing go hand in hand. Writers provide models of good prose for students to emulate. Students who are encouraged to read become better writers by having absorbed the techniques of good style. Involving the class in reading and discussing arguments is a good way of stimulating critical thinking. Then I will follow a discussion with a writing exercise, such as summarizing a particular writer’s argument. I think it’s essential for students to grasp the crux of an argument and restate it in their own words—and then respond to it, for or against, with details and examples for support.
Dr. J. Greco
Hi Jeremy,
Great ideas of how to develop as a professional educator. Constant growth is a must so keep your growth going.
Gary
I think it is important to be engaged in reading and understanding all of the research that is continually coming out that talks about the differences in learning modalities. The field of education proper is full of information that talks about how students (of all ages, really) not only learn differently, but by becoming accustomed to different learning techniques can actually reinforce information (for themselves) that they learned with some other modality--in other words, even if a student learned the material and would not identify themselves as a verbal learner, the very fact that they are participating in a different learning modality helps to reinforce and make practical the information they learned through some other style or approach. As instructors, we should definitely model this for our students, giving them a variety of opportunities to succeed in our classes.
Other ways to learn new techniques would be visiting other classrooms or simply talking to our colleagues about what works and what doesn't work. Attending seminars and workshops does the same thing. If we are to model to our students the value of learning, then we must ourselves be continually engaged in it as well.
Class critics, getting the whole class involved,
pointing out the poitives along with the negatives,makes for a total class learning experience and a participative learning environment!
Hi Elizabeth,
Great way to customize the class based upon the needs of students. Through feedback you know how to change as you need to in order to better reflect the learning of your students.
Gary
I ask for feedback throughout the class in a loose discussion. Students often don't see the benefit of their feedback or ideas as they don't have the opportunity to do so until the end of the class. This way they can benefit from their own good ideas and help shape the class and become more engaged.
