It's easy enough to quote the information given out in the course...with each delivery method being used to capture the learning potential of the varied students in the class. Over and above the 'official educational reasons', the other would be to keep things fresh for the instructor. We often focus so much on the student, we forget about ourselves. As the old adage goes: If you can't take care of yourself, you can't help anyone else. This is true with education. If the instructor becomes bored with the repetitiousness of the environment, then the students will not learn. So, by varying delivery methods, the instructor can stay fresh and make the overall learning environment more conducive to all.
Offering a variety of instructional delivery methods will keep the student interested in class material and provide different views on the subject. By doing this, it may also touch on the different learning styles and improve subject retention.
Individuals learn by various methods. Each person has a predominant style...predominant, not exclusive. Typically people are a melding of styles in various proportions. Using a variety of methods can address the broadest range of styles in a class, as well as secondarily reinforce learning obtained from the student's primary learning method.
it is important to vary instructional methods to cut off the monotonous tone that makes the student drift off to their own world. I often incorporate a game or an activity, even change my teaching style to have variety in my class.
It keeps the class interesting; and keeps the students wanting to come to class. It also helps them retain what is presented in class.
Answer is simple. To prevent students from getting bored and continue to promote students' interest in the course. Offering varied instructional delivery engages student on different ways to learn the course material plus it promotes their different strategies of thinking or resolving topic at interest for the course.
When you mix-up your teaching styles, you will eventually 'hit' on one of the learinging styles of each individual student in your classroom. I, for one, was a visual learner. When my instructor mixed it up, I understood more.
Louise,
What are some strategies you have used to be able to reach all of your students. Thanks for sharing on this topic.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
It's important to reach all the students.
Different students have different learning styles. To make the course content appeal to the largest number of students, the delivery method should be alternated, possibly even repeated using a different delivery. For example, I sometimes have one student read a paragraph of the textbook out loud, and the class reads along. This helps the auditory and visual learners in one shot. I then ask another student to think of an example of the material that was just read, or to illustrate an issue. This appeals to the more kinetic learners - it makes it tangible.
Also, it keeps the mind of the instructor fresh...who wants to sink into a rut of doing the same thing in the same way every time?
Rudayna,
Students like variety in instructional delivery and you are offering that. Changing the flow and pace of the class helps the students to "reset" their minds. Having the students teach a topic is a good way to build their confidence and help them to buy into what is being offered as content in the course since they have to learn it well enough to teach it.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I have found that no matter how big or small the class is, there is always a mixture of learning styles. I try to plan class in a way that will reach all the styles. I will do some lecture, and use media to illustrate some days. Other days I have my class move around, work in groups and have them do hands on if possible. I also have my students teach the class. They become "teacher for a day". They seem to enjoy that and they like the preping and delvery of it.
Helena,
This is one of the challenges of being an instructor as well as one of the enjoyable parts of our job. We get to work with diverse student groups and use our creativity to reach their different learning needs. Makes for exciting times at school. Can't say our job is boring.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I have the same situation. My students come from different background, differ in age, and time they are out of school. Some of them just graduated from high school while others are out of school for more than 20 years. Therefore, I see implementation of varied instructional delivery very important to reach them.
I agree Michelle, if we don't mix it up the students will be bored. And the adult learners that are working and going to school need to be able to get up and move around I have found to keep from going to sleep in class. So I have a lot of hands on activities that go along with the lecture material and they get so much more out of the class.
When you have a variety of instructional delivery you can reach every type of learner in your class. I bring in lectures, videos, hands, and repitition practices into all of my classes.
Offering a variety instructional delivery method in class presents an opportunity to meet the needs of various student. Some students are visual learners,some are more kinesthetic,others learn better by hearing. Even better others learn via group discussion and role modelling. A good instructor will have to factor all this in his or her instuctional delivery strategy to reach out to different students.
In the setting that I have to work with; I have students that are varied in age and in knowledge levels. It is a must that I change the instructional style so that each and every student can gain knowledge that they can use and understand in the course.
Daniel,
I teach both. Half of my load is online and half on ground.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
So students with different learning styles can be accomodated.
