One of the ways I make the course content relevant is by talking about my professional experience in finance and accounting. Also, I will discuss current news events that relate to the course content.
Students are issued equipment when applicable to allow them to practice what they learn. Students practice procedures on each other.
We, too use a variety of methods of instruction. One of them is what we call "facilitative teaching". With this we assign a student a portion of the next day's lecture. The student must research the material and then present at the next class. This takes the instructor from being the "Sage on the stage" and allows them to "Advise from the side".
The strategies I use are lecture, demonstration and interactive activities. I have used all of these examples in my instruction. These methods proove to be the most helpful in getting the content through to the students.
I read, use powerpoints, give handouts, and call on individual students as well as do group activities.
I teach online, so my options can be limited. I use Power point slides, field trips to other websites, and short questions in the slides. I sometimes have students use paper and scissors to make a snowman, which we use to discuss anatomy concepts. It gives them something three dimensional to work with.
Since students learn through various means of instructing I attempt to instruct using various methods. In this way I hope to reach those students who learn best through listening to lectures, or through reading material like slides, or through short team hands-on projects. The variety helps all students, regardless of their learning style, since it breaks up the lecture into mini-sections that drive the message home using different examples and formats.
I like to use a combination of lecture, accompanied by PowerPoint presentation, with intermittent practicing opportunities, where I stop the lecture and give the students the opportunity to practice the material through short problems and exercises. This allows them to immediately put into practice what is presented, reinforcing the learning process. It also keeps the lecture to short mini-lectures, allowing them to digest the material one bite at a time.
I think using real life examples are a great way to show the course's relevancy. I also think the students like to hear the real life application and enjoy seeing the "big picture" of why they are learning this material and how it will help them in their future careers.
Thank you very much for your post Stan. Phsyical examples are great way to present materials. However, In some classes this may not be possible. Case studies or problem based learning may be a good solution instead.
Jim
I start out giving lectures. However, I like to move into case studies when evey possible. I see case studies as also involving problem based learning. All good case studies have a poblem aspect involved.
Jim
I am very aware that students have different learning styles, and I do my best to have a variety of delivery methods in the course. Especially with the online learning environment, it is important to try and make it very dynamic and offer ways of presenting the material that work with different learning styles. It is important to have course readings, PowerPoint presentations with visual aids, audio lectures, and even activities/assignments that help them get involved in the real world environment where they can have more face-to-face interactions and experiences.
Recent articles are a great way to bring in relevant content to the class, especially in computer security.
One of the ways I make the material relevant is by sharing professional experience.
i make they work right after i give lecture, give them alot of handouts related with the subjects, and what is most important put them to work in groups to discuss the lesson.
I like taking students on field trips because they like getting away from the "same old thing" and when the field trip is appropriate the students really get a lot out of the things they see.
field trips, lecture, guest speakers, demo's, power point
I am teaching Information Technology Literacy online, for which I have plenty real-life examples to connect student’s own experience to the course materials. For example, before showing them how Internet works, I would start with the benefits and practices of a home network that they can relate to.
For each lesson I try to have a variety of methods to use during the class. This helps two things:
1. Variety (is the spice of life), which keeps the students more interested and motivated.
2. It appeals to various learning styles, which makes it easier for the students to learn.
Hi Kevin,
These activities help to keep the interest of the students as well as engaging them in applying the content that has been covered in the lecture.
Gary
