TO VARY INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY HELPS KEEP THE STUDENTS INTERESTED.I often change from lecture to white board to group activities. It seems their attention span is quite short so I plan my delivery with this in mind. Identification games offer a way to use compitition.
All work and no play makes Jeff a dull boy. Students get bored and lose their attention. We have to mix it up a bit to keep them entertained.
Learning styles vary and it is important to include variety of instructional delivery methods to facilitate learning. Each student is different and each has a differnt learning style.
Hi John-Howard,
Your last statement is a key one. We have to do what we have to do in what ever way we can to be effective and efficient in our delivery of content and learning opportunities. This is the sign of a confident instructor that is responsive to student needs.
Gary
Hi Antonio,
I think the renewing and refreshing of activities help to keep the interest of instructors. When instructors are interested and excited about what they are teaching then the students get excited as well. This turns teaching into a win win situation for everyone.
Gary
I could argue that it is important to offer a variety of instructional methods in classes for a variety of reasons. However, the teaching environment in which I work make this even more important, because the class sessions are 2 hours long [with 2 hours additional devoted to team work -- effectively a laboratory]. I have found it most effective, wherever possible, to implement a "lecture sandwitch" with the team time in the middle.
It is important to offer a variety of instructional methods in class so you can cater to the varying learning methods your student prefer. It is important to offer a vaariety of instructional methods in class so the instructor does not fall asleep at his podium.
But if you have a 1-hour class, you have to vary the instructional methods to prevent the class from simply blahing-out through lecture overload [although it is an interesting contrast with the situation half-a-century ago in university, where we were expected to sit through an hour of lecture and like it -- and seemed to learn something out of the process after all]. As it happens, most of what I teach is principles -> practice, so it is relatively easy [with one exception noted below] to split the class time into 15 - 20 minutes of lecture/demonstration and follow this with some hands-on activity, rinse, lather, and repeat.
The exception here is the first 45 minutes of class, where latecomers [who in our system must be accommodated] mean that if I start the practical break too early, too many students will miss out -- so for that portion, it is straignt lecture/demo until the class fills.
In the end, we want the student to learn, and we have to implement the most effective ways of doing this.
Do you feel that it is the focus on providing content that supports different learning styles or the renewing and assessment of the content that keeps things fresh for instruction?
Agreed! I teach visual project based courses and often start a class with a constructive critque of homework before presenting new topics. Allowing students to view each others work, ask questions and point out strengths and weaknesses helps to identify and emphasize concepts already covered before moving ahead.
There are a variety of people with different backgrounds, experiences, and most importantly, learning styles. By having a variety, we get closer to reaching more students--not only in terms of appeal, but also in knowledge retention
For massage students it is important to deliver the materials so they can see it in many ways, verbally, visually, and kinestically.
In my demos, I try to demonstrate the various techniques and show the different results. This has been the most effective way to make them understand that they can use their creativity only after they know the basics.
When choosing the delivery method of your instruction, you must look at how people and groups interact and learn. There are a few considerations to be made to determine the best method.
Self Study, Instructor Led, Simulations (computer based) - I used this technique to teach a basic computer course. Role play - This is good for adult learning games.
Offering a variety of instructional delivery methods is important because addressing multiple learning styles will make sure student needs are addressed. I normally use live chats, PowerPoint presentations, and I always suggest learners use their real world experience to assist with responding to discussion questions.
Adult learners learn in many different ways and varying the delivery method ensures that you will see how your particular class learns best. The subject of the course will also determine the delivery method.
Adult students have a variety of learning methods, however, they use one style more than another. Therefore, explaining materials in a variety of ways ensures some comfort with comprehension.
Offering variation in order to reach the multiple learning styles is important. Educators must take all the learners into consideration.
All students learn differently. Having a variety of teaching methods gives all students the opportunity to learn the given materials.
Hi Robert,
You are right about the whiteboard and powerpoint presentations. What do you see as being a good way to reach all students in an online course?
Gary
Just not an option in an online environment. A whiteboard and powerpoint presentations are a bit limiting.
Using different methods of delivery help keep the presentation fresh. This appeals to the various ways students learn and also generates interest. I personalize my lectures with (verbal) examples I've encountered in the field. The discussion that follows keeps the subject lively.
