I have had a lot of success with power point presentations, specially if students can have access to it during the course. It's like giving them your note cards. It basically organizes the whole course in one place. Outside class room projects are also very helpful and give the students a lot of exposure to their field.
My students are studying to become licensed pharmacy technicians. So, I like to start from the end and usually start by presenting an actual prescription to the class and act like a customer who is coughing and is dizzy and is in hury to get that prescription filled and go home as quickly as possible. The usual class starter question is: "Are you prepared to take care of this patient?" At this point students realize what is coming next is the core of all the things they need to know.
David,
So true and so important.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree that when you give students both application and relavency they tend to be engaged in the material
Joseph,
This is such an essential part of the learning process. The students need to be able to see the value and relevancy of what they are being taught.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Strategy-BUILD SKILLS "Personal SWOT" that shows no matter what field they are,it is important to keep learning and developing skill that will enhance and pay off in this present and future market environment.
Eloise,
How do you connect your course content to the application process for your students? Thanks for your input on this.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The skills and information that I impart are not
only applicable for today, but relevant for a lifetime.
William,
Real world problems translate into practical and experienced students once they solve the real world problems. I am a big user of case studies for this reason. The students need to be able to think and problem solve because they are in a service industry and their work is based upon problem solving.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I try to use real world problems. If we are working to add the amount of amps bering used in a house. I use my load center or fuse box. It's the one I am must use to or familiar with.
Sandra,
The more variety you offer the more engagement you are going to get from your students. Learners like variety and change of pace and this needs to be a part of our instructional planning.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Incorporating different instructional techniques to ensure the different learner preferances are included in the course. For example using videos for the visual learner. Project ones voice to engage the auditory learner.
Hieu,
Great strategies for teaching challenging content. The more application that can be made the greater retention of content there is going to be. You have an instructional process that supports their learning in a way that keeps them engaged.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Feeling out my students the first day allows me to accommodate their particular learning style. I realized a long time ago that we are all different and that planning instruction must be a combination of many styles. I use a mix of styles mainly to keep everyone on their toes and give extra help to those that struggle with the way I present certain topics covered that day in class.
One of the harder subjects I teach is function of the nervous system. My approach is to first explain why they need to learn what it is I'm about to teach them. I do this by relating what they will be doing in the future to the information that is being presented. For example, I train students to become pharmacy technicians. There are lots of medications out in the market that will cause drowsiness or interact with alcohol. Knowing the nervous system and how it works will help them to know why people experience side effects when they take medications that act on the nervous system.
Another approach I've taken is diagram modeling. Memorizing body parts is easy for some while for others it is more difficult. In the renal system unit, I have students diagram the system using kidney beans for the kidneys, blue and red yarn for the arteries and capillaries, and straws for the ureters. Other materials are used to show connectivity in the system. This method works great for my visual and tactile learners.
I explain what the demonstration is and demo it. Then I explain how and do it. Then after, I reiterate what I did and what the expected outcomes are. Then students do it. Then we discuss what we did.
I have utilized handouts and field trips. I find that handouts break up lectures into mini-lecture format and breaking any potential boredom.
Lucinda,
Sounds like a fun approach to teaching students the value that historical knowledge can have in their lives. This is what engaged learning should be about.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As previously pointed out in the material, it is essential to help the student connect the information they are being taught with the real world application of the skills they are seeking. This can be accomplished by reinforcing these applications through case studies, visual demonstrations,and by sharing professional experience in the area that applies to the information being taught.
I teach history so I bring to the students' attentions that they too have a history and that it is important and interesting to know where they came from and can pass their family history to future generations.
