vocabulary
Teaching film production you need to make sure the student knows what special terms mean. The classic is gopher, not the rodent but the go get that.
I provide a vocabulary list, but I'm sure it can be overwhelming. I teach in an accelerated program and need to cover so much. I'm afraid that underprepared students may be overwhelmed not only by the words, but even by some of the definitions, although I try to keep them short and simple and give examples. In many cases, it can be discouraging trying to bridge such a wide gap.
Vocabulary is important also in the healthcare field. Many conversations will be based on medical terminology so the student must learn multiple new words frequently. Word association and word games assist with repetitive learning. Quizes also assist with tracking the student's learning process.
Teaching graphic design learning the vocabulary is very important, there are a lot of terms that will be used in the job field. I started to give bonus quiz questions (4 questions) and vocabulary words at the beginning of every class and make sure I work the new vocabulary words into my lecture and into the class project. So they get to hear it and see what it means, a visual reference usually helps the student learn a little faster and memorize it.
Terminology is a vital part of teaching medical clinical lab assistants. I break them into groups with vocabulary words and definitions. They create flash cards and help each other learn how to pronounce, spell & define the vocabulary words. They create notebooks with new medical terminolgy learned for future use. They apply a sentence to each word in order to make sure they are using the words properly. We play vocabulary games to make it fun.
One of the things that I do with vocabulary-building terms is to give a few key words from the days assignment at the beginning of the class, along with their definition, as a team assignment. The team reads the words and definitions (I teach gen. ed. so the words are not specific to an occupation) and then makes a sentance that shows they know the meaning of the word. Students who have difficulty with vocabulary recieve the benefit of learning the word with their peers and hearing its definition in sentance format.
Thanks Shawn and Shaista!
This is an important point, thanks, since so many words in medical terminology are similar.
I observed an instructor once who paired up similar medical terms. Then the students chose which of the paired words fit the provided definition and then discussed what would happen if the other term was used by mistake. In some instances the result was humorous, some serious, but very effective.
Jay Hollowell
ED106 Facilitator
I agree with Shaista. I teach in the health field, and in essence, the students are also learning a second language.
I insist that they attempt to pronounce the medical terms, because the classroom is a safe place to experiment and make mistakes.
I would rather the student make their mistakes in missteps in the classroom than in the workplace.
Teaching a science course I often use technical terms and abbreviations for chemical formulas. I give a list of the commonly used chemicals during the first class because it gets tiring to write words like methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) or methane (CH4) over and over again. We use a lot of acronyms in the field too. Thanks! Chyrisse
Jay, I really should, but I do not currently do that at this time. I have PowerPoints that the student can access after each live chat. On those presentations, I put the actual term and then the abbreviation of that it may be called. That way students can refer back to it later. But it is just within the presentation, not an actual list.
Hi Angela!Thanks for your observations!
Excellent point about not overwhelming or discouraging the student in their first learning experience. Do you, per chance, provide a vocabulary list to students at the beginning of your course?
Jay
ED106 Facilitator
I teach an Intro to University Experience course at a Online University. There are so many terms that I, as in instructor, use that students may not understand until I tell them what it means. Also, we use a lot of abbreviations and that sometimes because confusing for everyone. I find that I just need to take it slow in the beginning and explain, and explain again. Since my course may be a student’s first experience with only learning, I never want to overwhelm or discourage them.
Hi Ronald! Thanks for your comments! Terminology/Vocabulary remains a significant component to teaching skills in our respective disciplines; it seeks like you give your students plenty of practice opportunities. Just, curious, have you ever had students define terms in their own words and compare to the established terminology?
Jay Hollowell
ED106 Facilitator
In graphic design we also need for students to understand a list of terms so they can sound intelligent on the job and also in interviews. I generally present, review, test at midterm and then require all terms to me defined again on final exam.
I agree with Eric, I also tech Pastry and Baking and with out specific kitchen terms learned you will have a very hard time getting around. I understand that many of my students have diffuculty with some of the French terms but once the meaning is learned the understand and have it memorized though pratical use
Yes. I'd phrase it slightly differently by saying that one's method of communication depends upon one's audience. What does it take to reach them? The answers will differ according to audience--as we always say in writing instruction!
Dr. Kendra Gaines
Yes, Psychology for Culinary students can be a challenge. I try to learn the terminology for them (as I like to relate the material to the student's application in the Culinary World), and I expect the same in return.
hello Chef Guilbert,
it is very refreshing to know that some else is using this method, I use the exact same method with the exception that I ussually have to translate the culinary terminology to my students in English, French and Spanish, and this is due that most of my Students are not fluent in English or French and to top it off they are learning a new skill, so I try to Demonstrate Relevance during my cooking demos and then we do three way translation.
thanks
Teaching any feild is the same. I want my students to learn the specific terminology & not use the layman words. Specially when treating the pt you need to verbalize to instructor the terms but expalin it to pt in simple words
Teaching baking and pastry is the same. I always try to reinforce professional terminology. If you don't understand the kitchen lingo, how are you going to be able to do what you are asked to do.
I like to keep the left side of my white board for French and other terminology. I leave the translation or meaning blank and fill it in at the end of class when we review the concepts that we covered that day.
