I can use more hands on activities to capture students that have different learning styles and also to get the attention of students that may be distracted by other things.
Hi Douglas,
I like your supportive and encouraging approach to your classroom. You have an outstanding set of credentials that give you knowledge and expertise to be an effective instructor while demonstrating the human side of teaching. This is a great combination for your students. Wish other instructors would take this approach.
Gary
Hi Andrew,
Good way to expand your instructional delivery through the use of technology. Work with your students and get their input on different types of technology that could be used in your course. They will be able to give you some options that you might want to explore.
Gary
Hi Lynette,
What are some ways you would bring technology to your classroom? Thanks for your input on this because I know other instructors are looking for ideas in this area as well.
Gary
Hi Melissa,
Good growth ideas on your part. By constantly looking for new and expanded ways to effectively communicate your content to your students you will enjoy increased retention of content by your students.
Gary
Hi Sandra,
Good point about how to effectively use student feedback. By taking what the students say and then translating that into a different instructional delivery you can continue to build more effective and efficient learning components in your course.
Gary
Some of the teaching strategies that teachers can use with the intent to facilitate meaningful learning of the students are: Prepare and know the subject, Know the objectives of the theme for oder developing, using summaries, illustrations, interspersed questions, analogies. Visual representation of concepts, objects or situations of a theory or theme (photos, drawings, diagrams, graphs, dramatizations, etc.).
Maria
As an instructor, I must be aware that every student does not learn in the same manner. For this reason lesson plans must have alittle bit of everything; lecture, powerpoint slides, activities, review of topic. This will motivate students and engage them as well.
In the classroom, I like to make my students feel like I'm someone they would work with in their field. Not just lecturing to them, but telling them stories about what I have experienced and getting feedback on those stories and asking the students what similar experiences they've had
The techniques that I need to develop further would be how to activitly engage students into discussion especially when there is a small class (under 5 students). With larger groups I can spilt them into smaller groups for group discussion and then have them present their finding to the class.
As noted, I consider my style very collaborative, especially in some of the more "real-world" courses such as those legal and ethical based. Everybody has an opinion and even though I have a legal background and several Ph.Ds, I try to minimize that fact as it can mute potential contributors. I try to personalify an "equality" in encouraging those to participate without fear of reprisal or denigration. There are times I have to pull back because of the high-spirited debate, but I am far more comfortable doing that than trying to awake the "dead" because of the way the material either was read or sometimes from prior ways they had learned.
I vary my style based upon the course and classroom students. Some course must be more formalized (ie finance, economics). However, my law courses combine both the obvious socratic formalities with a rather colloquial presentation. Many of my students have had previous personal experiences in this area. I encourage them to contribute up to a point as this often enlightens others (along with me). Hence I try to vary the styles not only class to class, but even within a particular subject area.
Learning styles are different for every student whether it be online or onground.We must develop a framework that enhances the learning style of each student. Some students think in abstracts others are more direct. My learning style is one of lecture,power points and quizzes. I use every article related to the subject matter at hand as wel future assignments we will be undertaking. I subscribe to many free websites that deal with my subject matter. My subject matter is primarily healthcare management. Sometimes in the providers office and at large facilites in New York. As you may know there is a wealth of information at this juncture with the new Healthcare plan adopted by President Obama. As intructional style goes we must be flexible in all things taught.
I keep up with former students in the field for updated information.
my instructional style is evolving. It is based off of the feedback from my students. I will speed up or slow down in response to exam grades and participation from lecture. At times I will employ in-class labs to help bring home the point. Although I have taught the same course numerous times, no two have been exactly the same. Consistency with material I feel is important, but my delivery will be adjusted throughout the course. Is this change in delivery helpful or harmful?
Because I teach a computer course, it is not very effective just to lecture about the subject. It is important to give the students hands-on activities so that they retain what they've learned. I also give students the chance to present their assignments to the class so that others can maybe learn something new from their classmates.
I am really taking a serious look at using technology more to enhance the learning experience for my students.
Besides the OHP, the technological tools available for staff are limited. However, I started using video in one of my classes, as a means of allowing the students to see their posture as the therapist saw it. This proved to be a huge hit with the students. Not sure what the legal implications of videotaping students with a personal video camera are, but as a learning tool, it has proved invaluable.
Bearing in mind how advanced many of the younger students are in terms of technology, I am feeling hard pressed to use more of it in the classroom.
Using technology available to bring the world to the classroom.
To add to my technical skills so I can use technology to illustrate concepts in the classroom. To acquire extra skills in the field I am teaching in to be able to inform the student of where they are headed by mastering the basics first.
To continue to improve my knowledge of the subject area that I am teaching; to observe and work with my department chair, who is a very experienced teacher, gaining tips and specific instruction about how to teach certain parts of the course; and to practice, practice, practice.
