I get excited and move fast
I would love to engage the students more in an online learning environment. I know how to engage them in the classroom, but it is so much different online. But a lot of what I just learned will help me.
Hi Kevin!
Even the most advanced students needs to maintain a pace the permits learning. I applaud you for recognizing your tendency to rush and addressing it for better learning experiences.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 facilitator
I have a tendency to rush through information in my classes. I worry students will get bored so I speak quickly. Other instructors slow their pace and that helps the students understand the information better. It is an issue I am aware of and trying to pace myself better.
I need to improve my speech speed. I get so excited about the information I am teaching I begin to talk fast and the more excited I get the faster the speech gets. I am very aware of this problem so I am getting better at slowing down, but sometimes the excitement takes over and the students are blown away. I usually give a disclaimer at the beginning of class and ask the students to slow me down if necessary. Probably not always a good practice, I should have more control over me, but I am working on that
Hi Susan!
I also found myself talking too loud and many times too fast. Lowering my volumn was effective but it was more difficult with pace as too slow I lost the student. Fast paced seemed to work in my classes. Those students who struggled for a while realized that they had to pick up their pace in order to succeed both in the classroom and on-the-job.
Good job!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I talk too loud and fast, obviously I needed to improve the tone of my voice and improve the pace.
Sometimes I tend to talk a little too fast. It's something I would like to improve on. In the meantime, I keep practicing and try to be aware as I lecture.
I have found with myself (also brought to my attention durning instructor evaluations)that I have an attendency to get very excited about the lecture/demo material I'm presenting and start speaking faster than I should. Durning one of our In-service meetings, I brought this up to our Lecturer and asked if he had any suggestions. His reply was, "You see that bottle of water I have with me while I lecture? Do you think I'm really thristy?" He uses the bottle of water as a 3 second pause to help slow down his speach pattern. Works for me.
Chocolate! On random days I'll have a little bag of Dove or Ghiradelli (good stuff). When I feel the energy fading I start asking open questions and correct responses earn a treat! People really perk up quickly!!!
(BTW, I got this idea from my dad. While in special forces training in the tropical Panamanian jungle his instructor used cold beer... very motivating, but my Dean would certainly frown on me bringing in a case of cold brew!!!)
Jay
I have always tried to avoid moments of silence when conducting a lecture. MY perception is that I will lose the students during this time or THEY will perceive that I do not know the subject matter well enough to keep going. I need to work on slowing down and pausing to alow students to reset and digest.
Experiences that I have experienced in clinical practice. Students can get the "picture" and correlate this with the subject matter at hand.
Giving more examples of life experiences as to the subject matter being discussed.
I am working on my patience at repeating things. I try to say things several times, and then rephrase it again a few times. I read somewhere you have to repeat something 15 times for the frontal brain to get it. Then I ask students to paraphrase what i'm saying so other students may hear it differently from a peer and grasp the concept from them if they haven't understood it from me.
Hi Stephanie!
I commend you for your self evaluation. It isn't easy to do. So - how are you going to address learning to use your voice and body language?
I would suggest making a list of benchmark goals and then identify more specific goals with each. Of course, you can't do this without some timeline. Finding a Toastmaster's Club might be a good thing for you.
Just a few thoughts - hope all goes well!
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I would like to sound more authoratative. Sometimes my students sense that I have a "soft personality" and tend to take advantage of that, especially in classes with labs. Instead of listening, their attention starts to wander and they may talk amonst themselves when I am trying to make a point. I am working on gaining their respect but I still would like to learn how to use my voice and body language to project more authority.
Hi Christopher!
How do you communicate with the more non-traditional student who may not like or want to know how to use technology? I know that we expect the world to be techno savvy, but that may not necessarily be true. Just know your students very well.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I believe that with the increase in the use of the interenet and other interactive mediums, that students need to be engaged using as much technology as possible. I am always looking to improve/increase my communication with my students through the use of technolgy(twitter,facebook,skype). I have found that students respond better to these forms of communications.
I know my key weakness is failing to comprehend that the students do not internalize the material at the same rate or in the manner manner in which I do. By slowing down, I would be more effective. I make up for this by trying to use a lot of humor or realistic examples that attack the senses from different angles...but I have much work to do in this area!
Greg
I seem to think faster than my mouth can speak and at times, I know I speak very rapidly as I'm lecturing. I know that my passion shows which is enough to get my students excited and engaged, but I have problems waiting for answers or dealing with silence. I've been working hard on pausing and giving myself time to check their facial expressions to see where they are.
