Learning activities
I truly believe that people learn best when they try for themselves. The challenge I feel though, is to get them engaged in a way that they feel "invinted" and "supported" throughout, especially if the activity/exercice is the first time around.
lecturing is important. The type of class that you are teaching dictates how much of you presentation is lecture. I give spot quiz, more for feedback to determine if my lecture is reaching the students or do I need to change.
learn by themselves, however, nothing replaces the classroojm learing environment.
like an interesting idea. How would an instructor facilitate this and how would you get the student to participate in this process? I teach college math and I can't get my arms around "a common bond" with students.
In the courses that I teach the learning activity is perhaps the most important step to learning. I have students do individual exercises and then group activities. I also have those students who excel work with those that are having difficulty; in addition to myself of course. As sometimes students understand a concept from one person better than another.
Hi Deborah!
Point well taken!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
I totally agree. I teach medical records. I find that most of my students have never seen a medical record. I think that if we started them out "seeing" some examples, their classwork would be easier for them. Often their papers make incorrect assumptions just because they have not seen any pages in a medical record.
I've learned that learning activities that are fun and engaging help students retain the information. As an instructor, we are challenged to create a learning atmosphere they reaches each learning style within the classroom. It is rewarding to see when my students walk about with self confidence.
I find that my classes enjoy group lectures and debates. I will give 5 points extra credit to the team who provides the most thorough and unique information
Students need to feel valued and supported in what they attempt in the learning classroom. We as teachers must provide them with the means to do that.
I completely agree. It is also important to build the road or give them a map of where they are going or how they might get there, but until they have had a chance to do it themselves, it doesn't matter.
A "common bond between the instructor and student" sounds like an interesting idea. How would an instructor facilitate this and how would you get the student to participate in this process? I teach college math and I can't get my arms around "a common bond" with students.
I find that lecturing should involve the student participation. Inquiring about a common bond between the instructor and student nurtures a good learning environment.
Students I feel do learn better on their own. They tend to like it when there is activities, this gets them more involved. I feel you don't actually know something until you do it.
Hi Melissa!
You make some excellent points about your program. But what do you do if you have students who just can't seem to get the picture or feel comfortable with "putting their hands on it"?
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
We are a very hands on program, we are in the medical field and the best way to learn the equipment we are teaching is to have the students "put their hands on it". It really helps students to see, touch and feel the tools that they will be working with. It is so important that they work together to learn how to work with patients and the equipment. They have to try out different ways to communicate to their patients too, which is why group time is so important in our program.
I assign exercises at which students can do really well or really poorly but they are meant as learning exercises and therefore not graded. Whatever they create (and it is entirely their own creation)good or bad is simply a starting point for dialogue with them about their thinking and points of view. They can go down in flames trying something but not suffer any direct consequences to their grade. It is a self directed opportunity to learn. Of course we do have graded projects but only after they have had exercises that mimic the graded assignment. This does typically have the effect of giving them some confidence.
Hi Ferdinand!
Repeat, reenforce and apply - not a better way to teach or for students to experience learning. I call this accidential learning - students are learning and they don't realize it!
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED107 facilitator
Sometimes, I also encounter students that are hesistant to try for themselves. Most of the times, I found they are fearful/anxious about doing a procedure, especially the "first timers". I give them a "dummy" to work on that simulates the real procedure until they become comfortable to try the "real" thing again. Some takes few hours to overcome their fear, others take days. But it always worked for me.
Ferdinand
Hi Dennis!
I couldn't agree more! But I have to remind myself that people learn in different ways, at their own pace and under their own conditions. So I try to recognize the different learning styles, personalities and backgrounds of students.
Good job!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
