Patricia,
you make two great points & we need to make sure we are striking that balance.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Tracy,
you are so right about this. I like to think of it as pegs on which they can hang the concepts.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Memorable examples can make an otherwise dull point, come to life for the students and therefore, more understandable. On the opposite side, we have to be careful that the memorable examples dont supercede the course content points we are trying to convey!
I give memorable examples everyday to my students. I feel that information tents to stick & stay in there minds when they have something to associate it to. Especially in the medical field, that one patient that you never forget or that one diagnosis that always sticks.
Kessle,
yes, the more we can hit on a variety of learning methods, the better.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I am a visual communications designer, I understand not only how important visuals are, but also how much more emphazis you can make if you say what you need to say twice; verbally and visually.
Kelsey,
yes those memborable & real-life examples are great opportunities for them to connect the concepts to real life.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Memorable examples can give them an idea of how the concept will be applied in the work place. Also the examples will trigger memories of the technical lesson.
Ma. Louella ,
I agree & I think it helps them see what is the most important information in the lesson as they see how it is applied.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Gayle,
these memorable examples definitely help retention of the key concepts.
Dr. Ryan Meers
James,
yes I like to say that they give our students "pegs" to hang the concepts of the lesson upon.
Dr. Ryan Meers
It allows student to express their knowledge about the topic. Besides the fact that memories allow for better learning than memorizing something, it allows students to own a and share a bit of their current knowledge.
It helps them to identify with what is being lectured or presented in the classroom. Sometimes life experiences help them relate to the subject matter
it relates the students to the topic and make them feel familiar and brake the wall in their subconcious mind and participate with enthusiam and expectations
If you use memorable examples to the concepts you are teaching, the student can relate to the concepts. It will also be easier forhte student to remember the concepts. If the students know the relevence of the material, they are also more likely to remember it.
Examples give the student s real experience to relate the lesson to.
Leigh,
you are right that the stories help with application as well as recall.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Edward,
yes & I think by providing this break & the examples, sometimes students who may not be getting it find the material suddenly clicks.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I happen to agree, within reason as well. I have found my students to be more engaged when I am sharing a situation I have encountered myself or an experience I have had in the field that pertains to the subject at hand
The more memorable examples we can use the better. The students will learn the information much faster and be able to remember it to recall it much better than just trying to memorize the information. Any type of situational story or comparison to something that they already know will work. Sometimes just a catchy phrase will do the trick. I still remember some of the stories my teachers told in my classes and that was 7 years ago!
