Get Your Students Hired
I always try to compare what I instruct and to compare it to another non auto related topic that they are most comfortable with.
I teach truck driving. I get new student often and 95% of them know nothing about the subject. My instructional style must change with each class and with students skill.
I have been feeling lately as if my teaching style reflects a Pandora station: every 15-20 minutes the activities shuffle: beginning activity related to the subject, lecture, in-class group activity related to the topic du jour while I mill around, open the class up for discussion on what we've learned, assign another activity involving research on phones or in library to be done independently or with a partner, then reconvene to discuss experience. We move through this sequence a few times during a class period. Some segments may be omitted depending on the subject and attendance. However, I like the idea I found on this forum about having students work through the ppts. I will incorporate that into the beginning of the class session.
I have just recently adopted a new app for the phone, where the students can use their phones to answer the questions in the presentation, for those students who have broken screens or whose phones are not working we still have the credit card sized punch card. The students can actually see the relevance of the technology and its not just a distraction.
Miguel,
This is what creates value and engagement in your courses. The more application the students get to make the higher their perception of relevance and this is what "sells" the class to them. The outcomes will be enhanced and the students will be enthused when it comes to seeing how much progress they have made in a short period of time.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Working in the health field, is a very dinamic area, and we are working with different medical equipment all the time, as simple as a thermometer to as complex as a ventilator. I try to incorporate the dynamic "hands on experience" by using manikins,updated equipment, and a huge help for me is, trying to display the monitor of a ventilator or vital signs monitor in to a large screen.
Overall, Try to provide a practical aspect to a didactic class.
Aleksandra,
This is so important and needs to be ongoing as each class of students take on a different personality. By doing so you are going to convey a message of support and encouragement to your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe that you can refine and enhance your instructional style by understanding your students and making sure you present information the way that they learn best. I think your instructional style needs to adjust depending on the type of students you have in class.
I ask on the first day why they are taking this class, what their experience in the field is and what they hope to get out of their educational experience.
This tells me how much knowledge they have in the subject area and their desire to succeed in the field
Terri,
Good advice for instructors to remember as they work with their students. I teach from 4 until 10 pm. We go from 4 until 7 and then take a dinner break and then come back to class. Tough time of day because they are tired and hungry from 4 until 7 and then tired and full for the rest of the class. Takes a lot of activity and effort to keep them engaged so they don't fall asleep.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Knowing your audience, the topic and what time of the day the instruction will be taking place to help stimulate those students into learning and receiving information. If the instruction is after lunch when everyone is full, using a % of the time getting them up to interact more with each other may be key. If it appears to be “social timeâ€, have them change the focus to you for a % of the time.
Amy,
Good strategy to follow. Your dedication to your students shows through your efforts to adapt as needed to meet the learning of your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I will try to be me in tune to the environment that I'm teaching in, and come up with instructional material that will keep them engaged!
Watch my students and how they respond to my teaching of material. Evaluate their learning of the material. Reevaluate with each new class of students. Adapt to each class.
An instructional style evolves over time with a variety of classroom experiences and training or development. By practicing your craft of teaching, being mindful of your teaching style and making changes as needed will all help enhance our instructional styles. For me, I have to teach in a way that I am personally most comfortable with and that is conducive to creating an open learning environment within the classes that I teach. I also love attending web-based and in-person training sessions or conferences and I learn not only content but new teaching ideas from the presenters – I find many times I am also reminded of instructional techniques I used to employ, but somehow got lost in my teacher toolkit!
Amanda,
Good for you because as you say this is good training for when they will be out in the workplace and are not able to have access to their phones. This also sends a message as to why you do not allow cell phones in your class. You are using the same standard that will be enforced when they are in an ICU setting.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Amanda,
This is a great way to reinforce your message to students since other students with experience in these areas are supporting what you are saying. This helps to increase the value of your message and increases their engagement in the learning process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
James,
What are some strategies you use to encourage interaction? Thanks for you input on this.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
You are not allowed to have cell phones on you while you are on the ICU floor in a hospital, it is a write-up offense. Therefore, I teach that students cannot have cell phones out. In the "real life" you can get fired for this. I am trying to set a good example of not using your cell phone in class.
I think that having students share their own experiences makes the group stronger. I can talk about what it is like in "the real world" but once a student (or two) voices in with something that they have done or did, it seems to make the group listen. To real life experiences.