It may take more than one day to get to know all students.
Be more informative to your students during lectures.
It is very important to know the teaching styles to be able to develop good communication with students.
Jessica,
Students like change of pace and variety in their instructional delivery. You are providing both with this approach and as a result you are able to keep them engaged.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I find that I provide outlines each week clearly outlining what we plan to accomplish during our two class meetings. Then I utilize Powerpoint quite frequently during my lectures. I typically will delete out key terms allowing the students to respond with appropriate answers. This seems to break up the monotony of just lecturing and allows for student interaction and a way for me to make sure they are understanding the material. It also allows for further explanation or perhaps explaining in a different way if it seems there is a lack of understanding.
Building on the content in the selected textbook by incorporating private industry examples is an instructional style that has worked for me.
Ray,
You are on the right track with your approach. As for suggestions for enhancing engagement by students it is an ongoing process for sure. Keep trying new and different approaches and then select those examples,activities and/or projects that work the best and use them while continuing to refine them in way that will keep the focus of your students. If you continue to bring your passion for your field and enthusiasm for teaching it you will do a lot to keep the interest of your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
One other way to get the students involved and to participate in the discussion, when I use the PowerPoint is have one student read and then let the student express what he or she thinks and other students love to add their ideas/opinions to what their classmates are saying.
I find my biggest challenge is finding a bridge between the very obscure, industrial subject I teach (technical moldmaking and casting)and the existing experience of my students. The hardest part about this is talking about materials and concepts in such a way as to make them exiting.
I first try to find analogies and comparisons that relate to things and materials that a late teenager might reasonably know. At this point, I try to generate enthusiasm. "This is why this can be so useful to you!"
Then I present either the demonstration of the process or material.
There will never be a perfect way to do this. Sometimes, the kids get VERY excited. Other times, I can almost hear the crickets. Would love to hear any input...
Nieva,
I think this is a good strategy to use as it lets them use their cell phones as a part of the class. The key is to help them understand when and where to use their personal devices so they don't let these devices interfere with their learning but support it. I think your students will appreciate getting to use their phones in this way.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Dr. Meers,
What could you say about using the cell phones in the instructional style- using polleverywhere.com- interactive audience participation?
William,
The more real world experiences that you share the better. I know you have experienced how your students light up when you share one of these stories. You make the course content come alive when you share these stories and show your students the relevance of the content.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Nichelle,
Like your strategy for getting student feedback that will help you to continually improve your instructional delivery. This method is easy to follow and engaging for the students. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Michael,
Like your approach and idea about how learning can be fun. Yes, it is hard work but it also a time to grow and acquire new knowledge and skills and it doesn't hurt to have fun while doing it. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Nieva,
Good strategy to follow as you will be able to target your instruction to meet their needs in a more direct way as their learning progresses.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Nieva,
This is an important skill to help them acquire and your effort in this area will be increased self directed research. This skill set will transfer to the work place as well.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Arrington,
These are fun for the students and help to get their mind set on the upcoming content. I am sure your students have fun viewing them and can see applications of the video content to their subject area.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Allowing the students to do a quick search in the Internet to support their answers (integrating discussions with hands-on) make them feel the power to be able to find current/updated information about a topic in the book being discussed by the class
Yes, I do agree that students like fun and they remember better if there is fun in the classroom. They think better when there is fun
Good afternoon!
At the end of every course I teach, I administer an activity called "Pit and Peak." The purpose of this exercise is to have students reflect on their experience in the course, as well as gain feedback on what did and did not work. The following questions are asked on this exercise:
1. What was the peak (high point) of the course?
2. What was the pit (low point) of the course?
3. If you could rewind time back to the beginning of the quarter, what change would you make regarding participation, quality of work submitted, etc.?
4. Name three memorable moments from the course.
As for my instructional style, I believe in open dialogue between the students and myself; stating the expectations of the course up front and sticking to my word; and combining learning with fun.
