Presenting Difficult or Dry Material
One of the instructional 'tricks' that I have developed for myself over the years is to use visual aids in the classroom (virtual or brick and mortar) that provide the student with a 'story' or 'cartoon' of the material i am trying to present.
Since the majority of my students over the years have been older teens and adults this is not as easy as it sounds.
I use PowerPoint to convey informamtion - I mix it up with photos, clip art (both static and animated), video clips and of course some text. But the text is minimal - I do not want them to 'read' the slides - the slides are a guide and a visual trigger. I want them to 'listen' while they are looking at the slide. Even the tutorials that I create for students to review outslide of the class are filled with action.
Non-traditional students are often fearful of being able to keep up with the 'lectures.' Unless every student is 'anal' and has already developed a work and study ethic, you have to bring the information to the class in a non-threatening medium - and without boring them to death!
Since I teach online this is critical - I want my students to look forward to each lecture, not dread having to show up.
Another approach I use is acknowledging up front that this may be "dry material" to some/all. I then question the students' as to why we need to know this "dry material". This helps them think about "needing to know" and how this knowledge will help in understanding future content.
Hi Dara,
There are some many poor PP presentations out there that students are for the most part burned out on them. If you use a lot of graphics, color and movement you can get them interested in your slides. I use them to reinforce concepts and to play games such as Jeopardy. The competition of the game gets the students involved in the slides and it becomes a win win for everyone.
Gary
I do print the slides with notes space, but I'm finding more and more that students seem to glaze over the moment they see or hear that a PowerPoint is coming. It's almost like they are PowerPointed-out. Other instructors tell me the same thing, so I don't think it's just MY use of PowerPoints.
I've even had students say, "Please, can we not use PowerPoint. Can we just talk through the handout of the slides instead?" I don't really understand this as the handout IS the PowerPoint. Yet, they seem happier when we do it this way.
I used to think tha PowerPoint was the latest & greatest, but now I'm starting to wonder if students are just burnt out on one-too-many PowerPoints.
Are the rest of you finding this, or is it something that seems to be just something that we are experiencing?
Hi Joe,
This method really helps with content retention because they can concentrate on the content by using the handouts as guides. This also helps the students to keep up with the lecture since they don't have to write everything down that is said.
Gary
Yes, I find that providing the students with handouts is very helpful. Since I personally do not find it very satisfying to listen to an instructor who reads every slide verbatim, I use the slides as guideposts for each subject presented since I know my subject well enough to extemporize the presentation. That way the student has a take away and they have hopefully concentrated on both the verbal and visual material. Joe
It is amazing how visual aids and animation help with dryer course material.
I teach radiography I print out my power points and then have the students do the projections with a partner for each one so they learn how to do it while I talk about. With their power points printed they seem to worry less about having to take notes and focus more on doing the projections.
Hi Barbara,
How do you measure the value your students attach to the supplemental material you share with them?
Thanks.
Gary
Yep - that's the ticket! When course matieral is super dry - or very detailed, small doses with lots of visual support works best.
Thanks! I find this methodology works best - the students have enough pressure starting back to school and dealing with the stress of balancing family, work and school.
Good idea! When I am teaching in the field I use that technique - it also works great in business meetings!
I have to think about how I can apply that to my virtual classroom. I think I can do it - it can be one of the downloads I can post on the classroom home page.
Thanks for tweaking my brain cells!
One way I avoid this is to provide TONS of additional information. n addition, my slide presentation is interactive - which means that those students who take the time to attend the Live Chats, or listen to the archived version have the opportunity to get immediate feedback (or they can re-do the recording).
One other thing that I do is make the presentation visually entertaining - lots of animation and examples of exactly what I am teaching. Believe it or not it works!
Hi Mark,
You might want to put your PP's slides 6 up per page with lines to the right of the slide for notes. You can hand these out at the beginning of the lecture. Then the students can follow along making their own notes on each slide. Then they have not only the slide but also their understanding of the slide in one place for each slide.
Gary
I like using powerpoints but I often find that a lot of students spend too much time trying to write down every little piece of information on the powerpoint and ignoring me. The same students then often come back and state the do not understand the topic.
Hi Robert,
Good point. This is why a personal "locker room" chat is good for us to have before we step into the classroom each time.
Gary
I find that if i can find, for myself, ONE good reason to get excited about the material, no matter how "boring" I can usually transfer at least a little of that excitement back to a student
Hi Russell,
In asking one of the students to be a sous chef for you, you are moving that person into a position of leadership and instruction. This is a way to encourage and support students to share their knowledge with their peers while increasing their own expertise.
Gary
i am teaching people to be chefs so i ask one to be my sous chef or assistant for the day, hopefully giving them some ownership of what we are teaching
Hi Suzanne,
All these different tactile methods help the students to see different ways the muscles work and how they can manipulate them. These approaches help students with transference as well. Good methods to use. Keep up the good work.
Gary
