I think always the real world situation gives best memorable examples. Also something that can be related to student on their life as well. Sometimes, I ask student to make up their own examples and evaluate them.
Karen,
this is a great point. This visualization can really help the different types of learners & also give them the solid examples to build upon.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Karen,
this is a great point. This visualization can really help the different types of learners & also give them the solid examples to build upon.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Specific examples often allow students to visualize the situation, method, or technique being discussed. Puting imagery together with concepts helps students remember.
If students have something as an example that they can relate to, they are more likely to remember it. As a core subject teacher (math), who has students from a variety of areas, I try to find everyday examples for tham to relate to. It would be ice to give examples from a student's specialty, but I cannot be familiar with them all and other students would not relate.
i always tell them about my failures but also tell them that we are going to fail noe and then but i have had more sucess in my career.
I teach a subject that the student takes directly intotheir profession. I am a licensed practionor of that profession. I use memorable experiences from my actual practice to reinforce the subject matter I am teaching. The student can then relate the subject matter directly to its professional application.
It gives them another tool to remember information. If they can associate the presented information with a funny story, or a something that I experienced relating to this information, it makes it easier for them to recall.
Douglas,
this is a great point. I've also found that they help build confidence as the students see that you, as instructor, have made mistakes & are still successful.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I think a lot of times, that is the best way to teach them the material. We are covering a lot of material in a very short amount of time. By only communicating to the students the "dry" material, they would not remember as much, as when I can give them an example, how it is aplied to the "real" world. It paints a much clearer picture of the things they need to know.
Using memorable examples accomplishes a number of things. Positive and negative examples show an experience that has been learned. Examples also show an application to the "real world", not just a sterile classroom lecture point.
Providing examples of work experience brings relevance to the topics presented to students. Some parts of curriculum can seem very boring and pointless, for example, in Medical Assisting most students find administrative functions less interesting than hands on lab activities, but with providing examples of how administrative duties help patients just as much as clinical skills the students manage the information more effectively.
Students appreciate that we are not perfect, but that we have used the error as a learning opportunity.
Students find "Memorable Examples" to be helpful in applying theoretical concepts to practice, as well as interesting to the topic at hand
Douglas,
I completely agree as this helps them realize that they will make mistakes & that's okay.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Not only for the instructor, but it is good to get the student participating and using their life experiences to demonstrate the concept.
I think that they sometimes need to hear that even I, the instructor has not always done things correctly and that I have learned from those times.
As I lecture I give students different exapmles of the topic or topics im lecturing that day.
Donald,
yes, these real life examples, used early on, can build the excitment & interest in the course.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Memorable examples are important as it helps to drive home the point of the lesson or skill. It will help the student see that what they are learning is relevant and used "in real life" and important. Using examples also helps to solidify the lesson/skill in their memory.
