I feel giving lots of examples related to the subject would create a more effective learning environment.
Linda Cartwright
Combine lecture formats! Keep it interesting and have contagious motivation.
I have only given a few lectures as a new instructor and for me I am still learning this technique. I have always felt that engaging the students will make the lectures more effective. this helps to reinforce the informtation.
Hi Yuk,
Right you are. If you speak too long your students will start to drift away and not pay attention to the key points of your lecture.
Gary
its very important to not make your lectures too long
As a new instructor, I have had a chance to test different delivery methods. My classes are small and I have noticed that a conversational tone helps the students stay enthusiastic about the subject matter. It also allows each student the ability and confidence to ask questions when they feel confused about an issue. I have also realized that, when speaking, good use of pauses, hand gestures, and expression help keep the students focused on what I am saying.
I feel that anytime you institute real world scenarios with any kind of content, students tend to have more of a reference point to what was being taught.
By giving examples using Audiovisuals, personal experience in the field and explaining erros and solutions, letting the students to participate with their opinions.
Hi Lana,
Well said about the need to be a communicator of ideas and content in a way that will engage the students. Boring is boring and that kills the spirit of the class.
Gary
To make lectures more effective for students an instructor needs to show interest/enthusiasm for the content (even if it isn't the most interesting topic).
An instructor needs to realize students are looking at the instructor as a role model and if the instructor isn't prepared or is monotone in the delivery of the information; students will soon realize the instructor is NOT the role model they want
Hi Allison,
This way you keep the students focused and moving forward in their learning. Our brains like variety so the more we can provide variety in our classrooms the more effective we are going to be with our students.
Gary
it still comes down to the attention span. As the lesson mentioned, our attention holds for about 18-20 minutes, then we begin to tune out.
I walk around the classroom as well, but I have to break up the lectures with group activities or individual research activities or I just lose them all.
By allowing them to relate the topic to their personal or professional experiences. ~ Sandra
Hi Dr. Godwin,
I think this is a effective way to use PPs as well. It is easy to get the slides overloaded with text so the students just turn off during class because they know they can look at the slide handouts later.
Key points show them what you consider to be important and then you can share the content as you wish. This way you have connected with them both visually and graphically.
Gary
Hi Dr. Godwin,
What are some of the methods that have worked best for you in connecting the classroom content with the real world for your students?
Thanks.
Gary
I use to be a big user of Power Points. However, over the past 10 years I have determined that students expect copies of the power points and then rarely take notes due to having the power points.
I think an instructor can get too bogged down in providing too much information by using power points. I basically now use power points to list my talking points (key theories) with maybe examples of real world facts mixed in.
Dr. G
I try to extrapolate information acquired in the classroom to real world situations.
Dr. Godwin
I feel that putting anecdotal stories along with lecture information can be helpful when the student tries to recall the shared information
Thank you, Gary. I will try that in my next class because I do want my students to feel comfortable and confident in class.
Hi Janelle,
Put your students into small groups of 3 to 5 members each. Assign them a topic like listing their three most impact life experiencing or any other topic of your choosing. Have them talk about these topics and then have each member of each group present one of the items that was discussed. This way everyone contributes and the more shy students don't feel like they are being put on the spot because they have first voiced themselves in a small group setting. This helps them get comfortable with speaking out in class.
Gary
