I love these suggestions that add such a variety to learning. I have used some color in my power points and used discussion/questions but am a new teacher and I find myself lecturing simply trying to cover all the material in the short time I have to present it. Do you recommend covering less material in class and presenting it an more creative manner and then leaving more independent study to the student out side of class?
Maria Estela,
very true & also I've found that most "assign" themselves a seat anyway & don't want to move from that spot.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Giving freedom to choose their seats as learners is already a good motivation to be attentive and interested in the class. Depending on their mood and feelings, the learners position themselves in a certain part of the room that they feel comfortable.
Seating is probably the one thing I have the most control over in my class room. After introducing a new topic I seat them in small circular groups and let them discuss the new information and share ideas about it. Also when troubleshooting I allow them to discuss possible and probable causes to the problem and decide what tests to perform.
I teach both in a class room as well as in the recording studio. I find that most students are more attentive in the studio environment where there are more visual and of course audible stimuli. I try to bring props in to the class room when I am able. Microphones or a piece of equipment, anything to peak students interests.
Angela,
and this can help everyone stay fresh & engaged with the material.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
By using a variety of colors,visuals,seating,and music,not only does it stimulate my students but it stimulates me,and really seems to help with creating a wonderful learning environment.
Brian,
these are all great strategies to keep the learning engaging, interesting, & at times...fun.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Sometimes due to classroom size and student number seating arrangement is very limited. However, during in class projects and discussion my student are allowed to move so they can determine which seating is best for their learning experience and participation. During my courses, I use videos, study handouts, and organization charts to show information. During lectures, I use different color markers to isolated information for the student organize the material into categories of importance.
I believe your tools selection is dependent on the course material. For my commercial driver's license training (classroom portion), since there is a lot of mechanical terms, I would have peripheral visuals hanging on the walls. These offer visuals for the terminology and are referenced often. The seating would be in a U or V to help facilitate interaction, the students with me and with each other.
ryan,
these are all great ways to create the multi-sensory environment that can really help your students engage with the material.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
In my pharmacy classes i use different colors for drug lists that are needed to be recognized in the field. I use posters with different colored markers to help photographic memory. I have also been incorperating the use to beta and alpha waves during class group work and hands-on lab component of my class and have seen an improvement in the level of work and higher level questions coming from this.
I readily agree with this!! Too much, too little..it's about finding a balance. I do think that colors definitely add a lot to students' learning.
Christopher,
this is a great idea & I would also say posting them on a class site is a great idea too.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Carl,
yes keeping them guessing is a great way to keep them awake & engaged.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I have been trying to have the students create their own demonstrations and exercises. In the future I will start to post more of their assignments as a way to re-inforce what they have learned. other dpartments have used poster board projects, I will try more of that.
PowerPoint presentations,games for Medical Terminolgy,Visuals for Anatomy and the use of color for diagrams improve the learning environment for my students
Just changing the environment at all is so=mething that will wake up the student .
i think one thing at a time , using some of these great ideas and keep changing them to keep it
fresh.
I will use the color of blue in the classroom to enhance the learning experience. Also, I will use a seating style that will enable the learner to see me. Then I will use alpha music as group studies are done.
Charlie,
These are all great suggestions that provide creative ways of reaching the variety of learners in our classes.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
