Hello Gary,
I teach Shiatsu which is a massage technique based on traditional Chinese Medicine. There are an infinate number of words and facts that the students are required to understand and memorize. I sometimes can't remember a term or definition that I know well but slips my mind at the time. How should I handle this situation ? Thanks, Ken
Marie,
I teach from 4 until 10 pm so I can relate to your challenge of keeping students engaged. It does take a lot of planning to help them keep their focus and make progress in the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Michael,
Right you are. How do you get to know your students better? Thanks for sharing your approach with us.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
George,
Keep this as a goal for yourself throughout your teaching career and you will do fine. I have been teaching for many years and I still look for new and better ways to be a more effective instructor.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I am currently teaching medical terminology in a late evening slot. I try to engage and "wake up" my class as best I can. "Good Evening Everyone!" I focus on pronunciation, I have them actively engaged and taking turns in the pronunciation and defining of the terminology.
To learn who my students are. What are their passions outside of the program. ask how can this program help them to grow as individuals. where did you come from and where are you going and what are you hoping to get from this that can help you get there.
thank you.
To know how your student is able to learn.
I am always looking for ways to improve and I feel and grow as an instructor.
DANIEL,
There is a saying that supports your approach. It goes "to teach is to learn twice, once as a student again as the teacher." This is what happens when students make presentations. They really do get deeply involved in the material and this increases their ability to remember the content and make application of it.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe that you can call upon the student to present a portion of the lesson or project to the class and then have the class discuss the material in a campfire approach. This will get the students to think about there interpretation as well as the ideas and thoughts of others allowing exposer to different ideas on the subject.
Continuing education relative to new and emerging styles. Trial and error of new style and/or urging oneself to try news methods of student engagement.
Sheila,
Good point and something that instructors need to be consistent in enforcing in their courses.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Joseph,
Student feedback can be extremely helpful in instructional improvement. I give my students 3X5 cards after assignments, quizzes, etc.. I have them comment about the value of the work they just completed and any suggestions that they have about improvements. They do not sign the cards so they are candid in their comments. Over the years I have never had a student vent because they appreciate the fact that I am willing to listen to the. This type of feedback is so much more valuable than the fill in the bubbles on an end of course standardized course evaluation.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I feel as though cell phone use in class should be limited, just as it should not be used at the dinner table. Unfortunately, there are too many who are easily distracted as it is, with all of the tech in the phones it is hard for me to concentrate when I am wondering if they are doing work, looking up data, or texting significant others. Its just easier and less distracting to limit cell phone use to emergencies.
A TECHNIQUE THAT CAN BE UTILIZED TO TO ENHANCE YOUR PERSONAL INSTRUCTIONAL STYLE WOULD BE TO IMPLEMENT A TIME DURING YOUR COURSE FOR FEEDBACK FROM STUDENTS. NOT ONLY CAN THIS PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HOW WELL YOU ARE BEING RECEIVED, IT CAN ALSO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A DEEPER DISCUSSION OVER CERTAIN TOPICS THAT COULD PROVIDE EXTENDED ENRICHMENT.
I think it's important to have as much interaction w/the students as possible... Meaning always ask plenty of questions & allow for discussions on the subject matter. As long as you remain on topic, it helps to keep the students engaged.
Kenneth,
I must be old school like you because that is the method I use as well. This format helps the students to be able to put the needed content into their memory banks while acquiring the skills needed to perform the technical tasks. Combined they increase the retention factor for the students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Heidi,
Good way to appeal to the difference learning preferences of your students. This way they all can acquire knowledge through the different delivery modes and move forward in the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
My technique is a bit old school, but effective for me. The subjects that I teach are mostly task oriented so I first tell the student what he/she is going to do, then I show them how it's done, then I allow them to perform the task. I explain it like so: I hear, I forget; I see, I remember; I do, I understand.
My teaching is a reflection of the needs of my students. I have some that do well with verbal instruction while others need visual aides to help. As an educator I try to combine many techniques to aid in my students understanding of the material.
