Ed,
You are right on with your analysis. All of these different delivery formats contribute to the engagement process. This is how you keep a class moving forward.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
There are many types of learners that can be in a class such as tactile, auditory and visual. When delivering instruction I use all three by bringing out models or equipment/tools for students to touch and do along with instruction. This helps the tactile learner by doing and touching, the auditory by explaining and the visual by looking at what I am discussing by putting the object with the word. I also encourage my students to use flash cards and take pictures to help study when applicable.
Coming from an elementary teaching background, I have also used MI with my students. Many of my students need to process verbally, so I give them chances to work in groups as well as share their own examples.
I think that the biggest benefit is keeping students engaged. When I alternate between activities, videos, discussions and lectures students are more alert and focused on the material. Also by presenting information in different ways I can engage various learning styles. If possible, I try to have the activities and discussions focused on applications of the lecture material to make the importance of the material clear as well as keeping student interest.
Karen,
I can appreciate your comments about too much content and not enough time. I teach a gen ed course that is required so the students don't want to be there in the first place and then I have a lot of content to cover to set the students up for their next series of courses. It is tough but I constantly look for new and more efficient ways to deliver the content in a way that keeps the students engaged. I reach almost all of the students using this approach. For the students I don't reach I do know I have done my professional best and it is up to them to be mature enough to put forth the effort to be successful and if they don't it is their loss.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I think a variety keeps the student more focused. When i find myself droning on with a lecture i start to see those blank stares or droopy eyelids. My challenge is covering the course material. A lecture accomplishes that, but what is learned is another story. I have to remind myself that quality is better that quantity but that is tough when i am responsible for teaching such a large amount of info in too short a time. What I need to do is teach the main points and expect the students to fill in the extra from their textbooks - trouble is many of them dont.
It is important to offer variety of instructional delivery methods in class because where they dont retain information one way they will in another way because of the students learning styles .
People learn throught several different methods. By offering a variety of them you allow the students the opportunities to receive the material in a way that best suits them. In addition, variety helps to keep the class interesting and the students focused.
Ken,
Right you are. This approach will help to keep both the instructor and content fresh.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Not only is there a benifit of reaching more students using a variety of "instructional delivery methods",there is also a side benifit for the instructor. This will help the instructor from becoming stuck in the mud of complacency and boring. By continually searching the topic to find alternate ways to present the topic;we all become more educated with the topic. Now we have more arrows in presentation quiver.
Different people have different ways to retain the information. Some people are more visual, whereas other have more motor memory and they need to write the information they learn down. Some prefer to record the lecture and later on to hear at again many times until they can remember it. Offering varied instructional delivery can significantly improve memorization. I think it's a good idea to use Power Point presentation and incorporate video-audio information alone with a lecture. Start a new class with testing previously learned material and finish it with a not graded pop quiz can incorporate different instructional material which accomodate all students lerning abilities.
Angelia,
Good observations. Each class is different and as a result you have to adapt to the needs of that group of students if your are going to get them engaged. I support your use of stories because they help to make real the content of the course.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I also find that switching things up tends to allow for the delivery of the material to be more beneficial to the students. Yes you are correct in saying that the dynamic changes from class to class. I have found out through teaching that what techniques I use for one class may not be helpful to students in another class. Sometimes change needs to be made in the middle but always keeping our student learning center of attention can help with that change. Personal experience has been very helpful in engaging students. Telling them short stories that you have experienced is a great way to start a discussion off.
James,
Good point about the two kinds of learning motivation. Sometimes encourage and sometimes a push help take the learner to the next level in the course. We need to be able to use both as needed.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Everyone Learns Differently. Being Educated in the civilian world in my youth and then educated a different way in the Military can really show a person how some learn and others have no choice but to. Given the range of options after being shown both ways from the spectrum, I can see why people "Need" a push once in a while. But the simple nice and expressive way works only if the interest is there to captivate. Where as being told to learn "Cuz You Must...!" has its benifits as well.
John,
Your instructional layout has a nice flow to it and helps to keep the students moving forward in the course.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Once you understand that people have different learning styles, varying your delivery methods allows you to select the methods best suited to the students you are trying to reach. In my experience this often involves incorporating some or all of the major categories of learning styles in every lesson.
The process that works best for me is lecture first, including visual aids as necessary, demonstration, followed by hands-on by the students and finally Q & A before dismissing class. Reading material covering that lesson is then assigned as homework and the next day starts with Q & A from the reading material before proceeding to the next topic.
Due to having a very diverse group of students, all who learn differently, all who get bored, and to also keep the instructor fresh, comming up with new and improved delivery methods.
Melanie,
I use an MI assessment I have developed with my students and I find that the results are a great asset to instructional planning process. Working in their dominant areas really enhances their content and course retention.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Using the 8 Multiple Intelligences is one of the most important things college professors are not trained in, unlike primary and secondary educators. It should be a requirement for anyone going into ANY level of teaching!
