I usually do demonstrations immediately after taking attendance. I teach audio students and many of them prefer demonstrations or hearing about subjects. I incorporate my demonstration into our daily objectives. At the end of class they will understand how to manipulate sound equipment a certain way. After I show them how to manipulate the gear we move on to lecture. My lectures always have a keynote presentation with some text and pictures. So, students can hear me talking about the individual details of the gear components and see the picture of it and read the highlights. I often incorporate listening examples into every class meeting. I will run a sound clip and manipulate the gear so they can hear the sound change while they watch me use the gear. After the lecture I will give a review demonstration and then have students work on the gear to accomplish the objective tasks. This lets students read, see, listen, and do things related to our subject.
Gregory,
You have a comprehensive approach that touches on all the learning preferences of your students. This way they can acquire the knowledge while feeling comfortable in how they are receiving and processing the content.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
During the first week of class I have my students complete a self assessment test to determine what type of learner they are. Once I disclose the scale we have a conversation about the different types of learners. Teaching massage therapy, I am in a unique position to really address each type of learner. I find it very interesting to move from one teaching method to another very fluidly when moving from lecture on the theory of a modality to then employing it in a demonstration.
While planning out my lectures, I have started integrating areas where each learning style is catered to.
Kenneth,
I like you like to use all the resources I have available. When I have experienced students in my classes I use them much like you do. They are appreciate the opportunity and the other students get some additional support beyond what I can provide.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In the commercial driving field, we oftentimes find students with varying degrees of experience relating to the field. I like to utilize these students as peer trainers to assist the students who are new to this industry. This allows me to focus on insuring that all students are learning the required material.
My classroom is a combination of many learning styles. As an instructor this makes for more prep time out of the classroom and some times the auditory students get frustrated with the visual students but my goal is to reach all of the students without losing the interest of other students. This is not easy!
I plan to utilize all 4 modalities as much as possible. I won't force it, but if the opportunity arrives, I'll use:
Visual Diagrams, Screenshots, live software feed
Written Word (handouts, PowerPoint bullets)
Auditory (sonic examples are easy in a music engineering program) + spoken word via lecture
Tactile demo reinforcement during class and labs
I'll also pull in audio/music and 3rd party videos to keep the student's attention engaged.
I try to vary my teaching style to hopefully cover everyone. Most adults are tactile learners its seems so I try to do a lot of hands on type learning.
Sonya,
Students like change of pace and variety in their instructional delivery. You are providing both in your approach. I know you have the interest of your students as a result of your planning and implementation efforts.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I use a variety of methods in my classroom. I lecture, use a whiteboard, I have hand outs, and I do hands on and get them out of their chairs. To address the different kinds of learning that is going on.
Deborah,
Good way to spread your instructional delivery around to appeal to the different learning preferences in your course. By doing so you are increasing the engagement factor and enhancing their learning as well as content retention.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This topic is an area I feel strongly should be addressed by all instructors. As a visual learner, I make sure my students "see" and comprehend the course content. However, my son is a hearing learner and excels by hearing. I make sure my students "hear" and comprehend lecture, directions, etc. As for my tactile/kinesthetic learners, I place the tools in their hands and allow them to become intimately familiar with the tools.
Jenna,
I teach gen ed classes as well from 4 until 10 pm so I can appreciate what you are doing with all of your planning and activities. It is a challenge to keep them excited about the course content and focused on what they need to learn for this length of time.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Since the classes I teach are 4 hours long each (and they are general education science classes) it is very important to have lecture, discussion, and activities. It is very interesting to see how different students thrive by using different learning styles (during activities and discussion) versus listening to a lecture.
I feel that it is very important to accommodate all types of learning. As an instructor I lecture for a portion of the class, we then do hands on, with then review which requires all student involvement. These methods have helped my class as whole. I do feel that this does take some trial and error and is not exactly the same from class to class.
It is important to accommodate the different learning styles of students (Loughnane, n. d.). By accommodating the different learning styles, instructors improve student learning. I accommodate students with different learning styles in my classroom. To accommodate students’ learning styles I incorporate different modalities. The accommodating instructor uses a mix of auditory, visual, and tactile components. A general day of instruction includes lecture, written work, large and small group discussion, audiovisual, and laboratory activities (Student Resource, n .d.). As a rule, I use activities, which involve all students to participate.
Reference
Student Resource, (n .d.). The Art of Teaching Science - Retrieved from http://cw.routledge.com/textbooks/9780415965286/studentresources_chapter7_scienc
eteachertalk.asp
Loughnane, R. (n.d.). Teaching Philosophy - Retrieved from ttp://www.roryloughnane.net/teaching.html
Nate,
Students like change of pace and variety in their instructional delivery. You are doing both with your approach and as a result I know you are appealing to their learning preferences.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Most of my course content is delivered via lecture and interactivity.
Most of the students I have are intercity kids that do not have much access to computer technology with the exception of the computer labs in my college and at the local library.
Also, because my school is located in the intercity, most of my students do very well with this type of teaching style. Also since I do also get some very above average students I have to be vary cognizant of lecturing to the slower students but need to mix it up a bit to keep the excelling students engaged.
It also helps to incorporate those excelling students as "Teachers Aides" with the rest of the class because all of our programs are in Cohorts.
Landis
Creativity with in your presentation is very important it keeps students engaged and on their toes. It also keeps you as the instructor new and fresh. Have fun with your students it will go a long way.
