Richard,
Thanks so much! My first course as an instructor will be beginning Algebra for alleid health students. I was concerned how to keep their attention and focus and fun. Your approach is encouraging and helpful.
To help the students bring their creative skills, I assign each of them a country and from a grab bag, I have them pick a name of another student. Through randomness, the students are paired up in twos and they each must reasearch and create a new gastronomical menu meshing the cuisines of the two assigned countries. This really gets the creative ideas humming and alot of interesting ideas and concepts are created.
Applying concepts, ideas and a direct application to the course material keeps my students focused and interested in the class.
In class participation using visual aids, and speakers. Thinking outside the box by using real-life experiences and situations for the students to relate to.
Hi Tate,
So how do you help your students bring their creative skills to the classroom when they are working on fusion items. Sounds like a very exciting time for your students.
Gary
Variety is the spice of life! Multiple approaches to the same content can be very effective. Sometimes one way just doesn't work that day. Be open to trying varied methods. I like the approach of checking for student feedback.
They new techniques are current culinary trends leading towards molecular gastronomy, fusion cuisine between two or more regions which are not generally known for their fusion of flavors: like Thai and Russian. Also new cooking methods. Using thermocirculators, immersion cookers, and umami.
by teaching them practical skills used in the real world
Hi Tate,
What are those new techniques which reflect current trends? Are they in the field or are they instructional delivery techniques?
Thanks for you input on this.
Gary
Hi Franklin,
I like this tie in for your class. I am sure your students appreciate the connection between music and Auto Engineering. Shows other applications of the content they are learning.
Gary
I have researched new techniques which are the current trends
I make the information relevant by explaining to the students how and when this information will be useful to them in their careers as well as personal life. I let them know how important the information is for their future success.
Because I teach an Audio Engineering program I can use examples in current popular music as well as my own experience to drive home points I'm making in my lecture and show relevance
Hi Marie,
Good for you. This engages the students from the very beginning and this enable them to keep their focus as the course progresses.
Gary
Hi Kathy,
Good variety. Which of those that you listed to you seem to have the most success with? Thanks for you input on this.
Gary
Hi John,
So true and so important. Knowing your students this way lets you customize your instruction in a way that facilitates higher levels of learning and retention.
Gary
Since we have different style of learning I always try after the first day to implement different style. Lecturing, visual , and demostration and as my student start practicing they start learning quickly
I have used the above techniques; first of all, students typically reply "I know relatively nothing about the subject" and "I want to learn everything the teacher has to teach me." Therefore, I find this activity relatively worthless. Second, when I ask them about their most recent course in the subject area, the response is usually "I took a course in English years ago." Again, not much help. Instead, I now ask them to list their fears about the subject as well as what they hate about it. That helps me better to assess their current knowledge and to address their misconceptions about the course.
Understanding a student's background is important, but I find it problematic. Most of my students are adults and are underprepared in terms of reading and writing skills; they are definitely underprepared in dealing with the abstract concepts in a literature survey course. Can anyone give me an example of how knowledge of a student's background can help me better teach such a course? Thanks.
guest speakers in the industry, field trips or offsite lecturing
