Combination learning
In the field that I teach, a combination of learning tactics are widely used. Much of what I teach is by physical demonstartion, but in order for the students to really understand what I have just demoed, they need to get the tactile component in.
Hi Alison - Thanks for your post to the forum. You shared the ways that you address the learning styles as you teach a very specific discipline. I found it very interesting! best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Not all topics are particularly conducive to all four learning styles. When I teach Animal Physiology, the tactile part is often missing, but since Anatomy is a co-requisite, they get that in dissection lab and that DOES relate to physiology.
When I teach CPR in our Anesthesia course, I first give the students a homework assignment in which they have to answer basic questions about the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system. This requires them to read the book, look up things from previous classes, and generally prepares them for the new material. This addresses the written word learning style. I then lecture on the material using a powerpoint presentation and demonstration of CPR techniques on animal dummies. This addresses the visual and hearing learning styles. Finally, each student is required to perform chest compressions on the animal dummies. That is the tactile part. Interestingly enough, students are very surprised at the physical exertion required to perfor CPR on a large dog even for a short amount of time. It helps emphasize the notion of the veterinary TEAM and how everyone has to work together, including changing roles within the team as each person experiences their own physical limitations.
jen: you do a great job in getting your info to the students. the items which they produce by your use of comination tactics and getting them to understand the tactile componet of the dish has been a great. your use of these techinques
are a feather in your cap as well as a great learning tool. it is a great way to get students to feel comfortable in a classroom and restua settingrant
Hi Victoria- Thank you for your post. You are running an inteactive classroom and reaching the learning styles. Great work! Brst wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Teaching culinary education does use a comination of all styles. Speaking while doing a visual demo, hand outs that relate to the demo, then the follow up of the student having to recreate what I just did covers all of the bases. Moving around the classroom and interacting with the students while they work then gives me an idea of how much of the information was processed, and I can then ask the student which method worked best for them.
Our university is investing in podcasting technology from Apple. I think this will be very helpful for students because if addresses several learning styles and because it offers information 24/7. This system will allow us to record just audio, computer screen capture with the professor explaining what is being demonstrated, and we will be able to record our lecture with full video. These recordings will then be available as a download to iTunes, which is a free player.
As a bonus students will be able to attend the class via a live video feed. Our hope is to provide a powerful combination of information and ease of use.
I agree that they need both the visual and tactile component for them to understand what we happen to teach, but they also need to be able to record and reference. My experience is that they retain only about 30% of demo and at least double that when they receive feedback from thier own attempt
Hi David - welcome to ED 103. Wow - what a sweet classroom set-up! You have the ideal situation in which to teach to the learning styles. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
I teach culinary skills and I feel that I can reach a pretty wide range of learning styles- I have a unique classroom with computer/media in the kitchen suites for the students. I have a camera and sound and the students are able to follow right along with me. Lecture before/recap after.
Hi Earl - You have it all going on - great work! Best wishes - Susan
Graphic design is already a visual medium so it appeals to the visual aspect of learning. I encorporate lectures (w/ PPt), reading assignments and hands on assignments. Pretty much covers all the bases.
Like many of us, learning often happens when we try something out and are unsuccessful in our in devour. Learning by doing often times allows the student to encounter this learning medium.
Some subjects you can try to explain as much as possible and be effective but adding in a demonstration or visual aspect to a learners experiance can be used to more effectively reinforce the subject. It is also very effective at drawing questions out of the students.
That is very true. In the culinary world it is very hands on.
I find that the demos work 95 precent of the time. However you will get that student once in a while that is better out of the book
