Ironically, I started using music recently in my classroom to enhance learning. I've used it for my hands-on portion before, but now I'm using it in lecture and the students love it!
Paul,
yes, the more variety we use in our presentations the greater chance we will reach all learners in our classes.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
richard,
the horse shoe shape is one of the most effective ways I have found for desk placement as I can move around & it facilitates discussion among the students.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Events for the day are color coded on the white board and in their paper course schedule. Class room computers all show the presentation being discussed. Various posters of diiferent types related to previous classes seems to motivate the current class to succeed.Music has been incorporated into reviews and reseach assignments.
Each class being different some things change.
is what i have done in the past is having the desks in a horseshoe shape and for colors just a lite gray
From what I have experienced, you need to not only vary learning styles into class segments but also try to incorporate them for parts of each segment.
Jennifer,
I too love this approach as it helps mix things up, can highlight different ideas/concepts, & it is inexpensive.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I always use different colored dry erase markers when drawing on the white board to make it more visually appealing to my students.
Wesley ,
excellent point made here. The visuals are a great way to support the learning & for some of our students to really engage them where they learn best, at the visual level.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Jeanne,
the block classes are a challenge. Another idea is to intermix activities with lecture & teaching. This can sometimes help break up the monotony of the class.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
The more visual we are to students the better learning enviornment that can occur. There are many times that I will use the whiteboard to emphasize a point of a lecture. Students want to be involved in a lesson and learning enviornment. Color and Visuals help promote this positive idea.
In the classes I teach, I don't have control over the color the walls are painted, however I do put up examples of student work along with posters with quotes or phrases on them. I also have used the method of projecting calming scenes along with music or sound effects to create a serene mood.
I teach a five hour class,four nights a week and it is difficult to keep the students engaged for that long. I usually give them the last couple of hours to work on homework or research assignments. I like the suggestion about using music and I think I may start playing music during this time.
I have not attempted using color, but I always put my classroom into a modified U shape, it allows me to visualize all the students and visa versa. Plus they are less likely to be on their cell phone or goofing off.
Mahailey,
this is a great example of taking the concepts & adapting them to your unique environment.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
We do put on a radio when we are doing our lab work.I does make the working environment seem more familier.
I teach in a computer lab and am unable to place anything on the walls. I will try adding visuals to my agenda for each class period and be more conscious of my color choices so that information is chunked for my students consistently throughout the term.
Due to my field and curriculum, some of these elements would be nearly impossible to incorporate. However, seating is essential. My favorite professor in college had us sit in a circle in a seminar style; this invoked the most learning.
I always try to incorporate visuals into may classroom. My classrooms are usually pretty white and bland, so I always ask the students to create some sort of visual aid whenever they are working on a case study or project. Not only does this give the visual learners something to look at and to assist them in their learning, but it gives the students a way to "show" everyone what they have learned and all of the hard work they have put in.
Charles,
yes, these are great ways to motivate the students & encourage them to strive for excellence in their careers & in their current studies.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
