I'm still learning. It is a change from working in my profession and teaching it in a classroom setting.
Hi Wesley,
Great to hear about your progress so far. Keep up the good work. Your use of variety in your instructional delivery helps to keep the students engaged and forward focused.
Gary
Examples of work that has been achieved by other designers and field trips to relevant places so students can understand first hand examples in the field.
I take my students to see my work or other buildings when we cover relevant material in class.
I have implemented lectures, stories/examples from my experience or others, videos (i.e., YouTube), hands-on projects, and then stories/examples from the students themselves. So far, so good.
There are several strategies that I have implemented for making a course’s content relevant and applicable to the learning needs of the students. I have used lecturing, demonstrating, questioning, role playing, etc.
In order to help the students achieve the goals and objectives, the instructor has to be creative in planning for instructional delivery.
In my case study course, I give a mini-lecture outlining the case content. Then, I will assign 3 - 4 students per team. Students will spend about 15 minutes to read and discuss the case content among members. I will post a case question to all teams and see which team will give me the correct answer first. Usually, I will have 4 questions for a case.
When lecturing on a subject matter, I will relate the lecture topic to a real world current or recent event. Students are often intimidated by new terms and textbook vocabulary. By relating the topic to something they can relate to or are aware of makes it easier to learn, integrate and respond to.
I integrate PowerPoint presentations introducing key concepts with visual images. Sometimes the images are comical, sometimes thought-provoking.
Others times I will bring a prop or sample to pass around the class.
I will also bring in class lecturers or will schedule field trips. Having another lecturer exposes students to a different delivery style. Field trips allow students to experience and relate the subject matter.
To begin, it often helps to administer a modalities survey to learn the varying learner preferences. Then, I make every effort to adapt as many of the learning styles into my teaching as possible, and endeavor to not lean to heavily on my own prefered learning style.
I accommodate the different learning preferences by asking my students to read the material before it is presented, discuss the material in class, provide PowerPoint slides to accompany the lecture and encorporate as many hands-on activities as possible. I also frequently assess the students' retention of the material by quizzing the during the class.
Aware as I am of Gardner's eight modes of intelligence, I endeavor to present the material in a variety of ways, including: lecture, video presentations, as well as group activities.
i hope to use a variety of different tactics for each lesson plan. I find that when students interact via discussion, demonstration etc. they retain the information better. I like to help the students visualize what I am talking about and offer up examples of what the topic is as well to give them a variety of different methods with which they can recall the material.
Keeping it in line with clinical issues
The class session includes hearing seeing touching all the senses. It is important to develop a textile vocabulary that has meaning and the student understands application.
Using different approaches is the best way to engage students. I use a variety of videos, in-class discussions, group activities, along with lectures to engage my students.
First of all you need to know your material backward and forward so you can explain it in more than one way. You also need to watch your students to see if they are getting it or if you need to address the topic in another way for all to understand.
Hi Katherine,
Good strategies for introducing different learning opportunities in your course even though it is primarily lecture based. Your students get to see, read, and write information that is provided. These multi-sensory approaches serve to reinforce the content acquisition that is going on.
Gary
I will now try to make a better effort to accommodate all the learning styles. For a new class, I may consider asking the students how they learn best.
Strategies I use to show that the course content is relevant and applicable is to use life experience examples. Students are also encouraged to relate their own experiences where applicable.
Clearly the message on the board for the students to interact with /as a group are my main source....They love to see and have the demo visual/seeing is the most responsive way to keep the attention for all....I will also try the tree diagram. Not used this yet....
The current course I am teaching really only lends its self to a lecture based instruction. I usually use a power point with written words and diagrams/pictures. I also find ways to repeat/reinforce the "big" points for the verbal learners. Finally, I also hand out "notes" pages for the students to fill for the learners who learn best by reading the material. Then they can fill in the notes as they read or after they have read the material.
