I too have found when I supplement a powerpoint lecture with a picture or other information not directly from the textbook the students that follow a lecture by highlighting their textbooks get really lost. I try to give a "disclaimer" prior to introducing the material that it is a supplement not found in the book (or found in another chapter), but that too takes away from the lecture focus at times. I like the idea of using color coded prompts in my lecture outline to remind myself to announce the material as a supplement.
I try to apply situations to real life experiences and to discuss case studies
Lee,
Good strategies. These types of supports help to keep the focused on the content and engaged in their career progress.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Chunk the lectures into 15 mminute blocks/ use active learning between the blocks-- think pair share; what one thing don't I get; group summary--what was the most important point/based on the learning objectives for the course what quiz questions might be developed from the content?
Ghazanfar,
I like the approach you are taking to the classroom. You have a very balanced student centered method of teaching. I know your students are gaining the knowledge they will need in their progress toward their careers.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I do the following to prepare and deliver effective lectures:
1. Give them notes (hand outs) with few mistakes in them. When I lecture, they read my notes and have to find those mistakes and correct them. I inform them about this on the first day as this activity is a graded event and by listening and not just hearing they earn a grade.
2. To do this right, I have memorized all my statements and always read my notes before start of each class regardless of the fact that for how many times I have taught that subject.
3. When I show them a power point, I prepare them with a 20-80 ratio, meaning each slide has only 20 % words and 80%diagrams, graphs or video clips. Once again to do it right, I prepare my self before the start of class.
4. Always start my class with a question, sit back and listen to what my student have to say. Then I start my class and sometimes repeat the same what 1 or two studentshave said, I acknowledge their right answer by sayig their names. This helps me to make more students read a topic before coming to class.
5. At the end of each module, I ask my student to take an enonymous survey about my teaching style. Sometime I get very interesting and useful suggestion which help me to improve on my teaching techniques for the next time.
I do agree that powerpoint lectures tend to bore the students. I like the lecturing one day and having note taking from the booard the next day. I'll will definifely give that a try. When you give the students a short quiz, is it graded? I like to do a mixture of hands on and ask plenty of questions during my class lectures. I also provide scenarios to get them thinking. I find that it helps keep the students focused.
Louise,
How do you do this with your students?
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Relating the information to everyday experiences in the field helps with learning.
Sabina,
I like the approach you are taking with your courses. Your students are leaving with expanded knowledge and skill sets. Their ROI is that they can apply their new knowledge and skills in different settings with positive results. This is a win win for everyone.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Lectures can be more effective by limiting the amount of time spent lecturing. Since the average adult cannot retain over 15 minutes of content, I use those 15 minutes wisely. I try to concentrate on covering the need to know information during that time.
Most of the courses I teach are IT based. I have a strong background in Mathematics as well. When I teach a math class,I use my technological skills to create PowerPoint slides or create a discussion forum prior to and after to lecture to see what people think. On several occassion people have informed me that the use of my technical skills, especially in a math class is extremely useful as I create each step to a problem on a slide. Upon completion I post the information to the class website prior to the lector so the students can review it and come with questions or post them to the discussion board.
As for my IT class, I inform them the best way to learn is by doing. The lectures are minimal causing the students to do research discuss with their classmates what they think/found. I've watch students even trade answers. In the end the students thank me because they felt I did not read / lecture to them or showed them a video, I really made them do some work and they learned a lot more then they thought they would prior coming to my class.
With very technical subject matter for a profession that is all about personal service, role play has been a great way to improve participation and help students generate a rationale as to "why" they are proceeding on behalf of the individual they are working with. Professional rationale verbage is very difficult to teach. Teaching a script is easy but I want the students to take ownership of their explanations with clarity and credibility. Role play is one way of meeting this challenge. Students learn from each other's explanations too. They begin to grow in self esteem when they find words that work for them and lead into the next phase of protocol.
I also encourage students to maintain a "warm and fuzzy" box for research that supports the professional decisions they make. Life is case by case, personal experiences and research; therefore the choices they make in their profession should be based on life long learning and research which they should maintain creating credibility to their positions.
I think giving multiple learning styles during you r lectures is optimal. I provide my students with visual aids that we color, make extra notes on, and refer to. I also will use models for students to manipulate when I can refer to them during my lecture. i also use dry eras boards for demondtrations on lecture points. My reviews are used there as well. they are based off the lecture and activities from the previous class so they get the repetition and visual aids they may nedd.
Engage students more by encouraging participation. Guide students in group activities. Refer to visuals in textbook or projections. Generally, strive to reach students of all learning styles.
Bess,
Students like variety and the more you can incorporate into to your classes the more engagement you are going to have.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
my classes involve music composition and performance. i always include my own live performance and samples of my own recordings and scores to show students what the end goal will actually look and sound like.
I agree with Juan that relating the material through understandable illustrations or analogies is very effective at providing effective lectures. The more easily you portray the material the greater the liklihood that the students will effectively grasp a complete understanding of the major concepts.
I find that not using powerpoints helps my students by keeping them taking notes and actually listening to what you are saying. Walking around the room also helps.
know your lecture, use the board walk around the room,ask for feedback.
