partial class demos
What does everyone think about doing demos to 5 to 6 students at a time during lab, then moving on to another group instead of giving a demo to all at once?
Hi Vanessa,
Is there anything you can do to encourage your students to get their check offs done in time for a group demonstration? The one demonstration is a time savor and you know exactly what you said in the demonstration. When you do it many times over sometimes it is easy to forget a segment that is essential to the successful performance of a task.
Gary
In my group we've been doing partial demos in groups.I would rather do it in front of one group what i notice is that students dont always have there check off done in a timely manner.
i do the same thing in the lab smaller groups give the instructor time to answer questions
and everyone can see the demostration
Depending on your class size I think doing demos to 5 or 6 at a time will cause thoes that go last to wander in their attention. I try to the demo for the whole class, then let the students start the project then go to each group one at a time to give direction if needed.
I think this is a great idea and have used it many times. If ind that if you are trying to do a demo for a large group, you tend to lose a lot of there attention. Also in such large groups you will have a few who don;t really quite understand you and might be afraid to say something in front of a big group. If they are in a smaller group they are used to working with they may ask mor questions.
I think this is a great idea. The last lab class I taught (and my first) I demo'd to the whole class and it was a diaster. Granted, I only have about 12 people in the class, but I think they all would have benefited from smaller demonstrations. I also think it would work well to do a demo in the small groups and then do another demo that the group is also manipulating the same skill at the same time.
Terry, this a great idea. I have been using it in my labs and it works well. The studenst pick up more and are not as afraid to ask questions since their peer group is not as many in numbers. There are a couple things to be careful of but mainly idle time for the
Students. I will give have a lab set up that gives the class a couple different parts that do not require my attention. While the class works on this I go group to group to show them whatever it may be, procedure, equipment use, safety, etc. The other thing I keep an eye and ear out for are the ones that want to work ahead and are wanting to show you they know more that you think they do. When I catch this I just ask them to hold on a little bit till I can get there. I fine a way to praise them to acknowledge their effort. Usually I have no problems.
Hi Terry,
The answer to this question depends on how you structure the class when the students on in lab. If they are in work groups it is easy to rotate through the groups giving a demonstration at each point and them let them proceed with their work. If you use the small group demonstration method make sure all of the other students are working on projects. You can't have students standing around waiting for you to get to them for the demonstration. If they are you should call the whole class together do the demonstration and then get them back to work. Idle time is not productive for anyone plus it lends itself to class management problems.
Gary
