Hi Kay,
Good strategies. You are offering variety which is very important in learning as we know. This way students can see the flow of the class and use their preferences in acquiring the content.
Gary
Hi Sheryl,
I agree. Even in our age of technology humans still like interaction with each other. So when instructors are dramatic and dynamic in their delivery students are engaged. Also, students as you know love to hear stories from their instructors. An instructor that can tell stories with enthusiasm is going to keep the interest of students. So keep up the "performances" each time you enter the classroom.
Gary
It is important that you feel comfortable when you are teaching so don't try to adopt a style that makes you feel otherwise. On the other hand, by introducing a variety of appropriate teaching styles into your classes, you will be more likely to engage students and address their different learning styles. Each style contains a different amount of student participation and active involvement; every style requires the same two essential things from the instructor - preparation and enthusiasm.
Some of the things I feel that is really important is to allow the students to have a voice in the class. I often assign them a topic on the subject that I'm discussing and tell them to do the research on that topic and allow them a couple of minutes in class to define what it means to them and what new ideas they found that was interesting. This not only keep them engaged but it makes the class a little more interesting by them giving their input.
Kay, hands on learning is definitely an opportunity to be diverse in learning and inclusive. To be mindful that there are other ways to effectively delivery instruction outside of what's traditional like lecturing is enriching for students. Testing new techniques and finding ways to 'spruce up'general study topics is enriching for you!
In the instruction of my students I try to utilize multimedia, lecture and hands on to enhance learning. Some of the subject matter is hard for the students to grasp without the use of visual, auditory, and actual hands on experiences. In order to further develop technique I must constantly read the latest developments and new techniques related to my field in order to effectively convey the new and updated information to my students. I will continue to seek out new tools to use in the classroom such as virtual online clinics and case studies to more accurately relate the information given and the knowledge acquired in the classroom to real life employment situations.
I believe that every instructor's "style" can be enhanced through some experience with drama. One reason I got into teaching is that I loved to perform and teaching is an opportunity to do that every day in the classroom. What do you think? Would instruction be enhanced if every teacher was required to get a taste of drama? I think so!
I am combining visual with lecture and analyzing cases allowing the students to present their findings objectively.
