Since I teach in the medical field, I first show and explain the necessary tools for the task at hand, allow the students to hold the tools, and then demonstrate the procedure. After demonstration, I allow the students to demonstrate with the instruments.
Visual learners require visual stimulation in order to process new information. Material ought to be visually punchy and engaging; bright, colorful with as many graphs, charts and illustrations as possible.
I myself am a visual learner and can recall most information instantly if I have a visual to recall whether that was my instructor's handwriting on the board, a powerpoint presentation or a picture in a book.
The demo and do process is one that has proven to be a sucessful method for teaching the technique at Le Cordon Bleu. this way , the correct procedure is demomstrated and the student performs the task under supervision of the instructor
I teach nursing at a career college. We often teach with powerpoints, but the students really like when we add interactive teaching modes. Lynn
Thanks David, I'm a new teacher and have to cover alot in a short amount of time and it's so boring to rattle on. your idea is great and I will use it.
Hi Lisa- Thanks for your post to the forum. How lucky you are to have those great resources! Our students deserve the best that we can give them.
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I teach a head and neck anatomy course. I have the luxury of a 3D computer program as well as models that students can hold. We have some great oppotunities at our school for visual learners in addition to traditional ppts and images.
I also teach online and found some useful videos on YouTube and we don't have to worry about copyright issues.
I enjoy anytime I can include a video because it provides another type of media to include in my classroom. I think the students like it also because then it isn't just a presentation lecture with me asking questions all the time.
I wish I could choose the textbook for my class. Since I teach in the online environment many a times there are several sections of the same class (maybe 3 to 6) for senior classes and the assignments are all the same for each section for standardization which I like because then I need to just facilitate but it does cut down on curriculum creativity.
I once took a doctoral course and the course materials were all journal articles written in the last 5 years which was very interesting.
Some strategies that work for visual learners are PowerPoint, pictures, slides and diagrams.
Hi Gwen- Thanks for your npost to the forum. Whatever we can do to make learning fun and exciting is appreciated by our students! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Wow Chad - What great ideas -thanks for sharing!!
I have had so many requests for kinesthtic options for math classes! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
In teaching math, there are many different ways to help visual learners. Since math is used to describe the real world, real life examples can be great for visual learners. Geometric examples using area/distance can be used to represent multiplication/division and addition/subtraction. A great example of this is the use of algebra tiles. Not only is this great for visual learners, but since students can manipulate them, it is also great for kinesthetic learners.
When working on word problems, it is always a good idea to draw something for visual learners. Even something that doesn't need a picture, like calculating gas mileage, could benefit from a picture that a visual learner could associate with the problem.
I use handouts, but instead of straight forward words or photos I make it fun. when talking about the olfactory bulb (one step in the smell process) I use a photo of a dancing light bulb!! They tend to remember the fun involved in learning which in turn helps them retain the information.
Hi Darrell- Thanks for your post to the forum. Why do you think that your students struggle with your projects? Best wishes- Susan
I again use all the formentioned methods of visual presentations as well as live demo's, but not for everything.
As with other electives on campus, they perform live demo's for ever project on their course map, (the 'other elective is actually broken down into -6- seperate 3 week modules
In my elective, with the amount of projects we do (have available)we are not able to do live demos for every project, (-2- 12 week programs) unfortunatly, students who come to my elective from the previous formentioned electives usually struggle with my projects, after a minimium 33 weeks plus of previous instruction I expect my students to have the skills AND knowledge that are required to perform our projects.
Our service manuals are very illuminating with a large selection of visual pictures and diagrams to assist the "visual learner" in properly performing the tasks at hand, all the student has to do is read,comprehend and look at the diagrams, pictures and illatrations to perform the project.
Hi Scott- Thanks for your post to the forum. I think that we all have experienced "PowerPoint Hell" at some point! Horrible classes or training sessions with either pages and pages of text (which the facilitator reads to us -groan!)or painful animations that click,clack, beep, or whatever! There HAS to be a better way and it seems that you are on to it! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
I agree with your note about using clip art with Powerpoint slides. I also use different font styles, color and size to make it more visually interesting for visual learners.
For the visual learners in my class, I mix powerpoint with in class demostrations and videos.
