Iam teaching a class of students that are from different countries. I myself am from another country. We share our stories, relate experiences and enjoy comparing the differences and sameness of our life experiences. I really enjoy this class because every day we take away new knowledge and a sensitivity to others because we have a way of understanding what normally would have been misunderstood
Currently over 50% of my class is English as a second language. I have had success with using examples and then the students also relate using their experiences with their culture. The discussion the goes to the differences and of course the commonalities of the situation. I have learned key spanish terms also. To the great amusement of my students when I tell them to look at the board in spanish. It has developed into a classroom culture of sharing and humor with tolerance all around. I truly enjoy this class the most of all of my classes because I am also learning.
I suggest talking to other faculty members, the student learning center directors with degrees in counseling, and the students themselves. Aside from the peer review literature the best way to learn about this subject is to engage in a dialog with colleagues to find and share best practices.
I think one of the best ways to learn about the needs of diverse learners is to get to know the learners personally. A little information can go a long way into being an insight into how that particular student processes and relates to new information. I think another good way is to make learners more aware of their own needs. Using a multiple intelligence assessment or something similar can give the student another insight into how they learn so they can communicate better with their instructors. It will give them a sense of control and empowerment as well as responsibility of their learning and education.
I have also learned a lot about my students by requiring them to keep a journal. I can do that because I teach writing. I am always amazed what I find out about them. I can read about their pasts, their struggles and sometimes their successes.
I use an exercise titled "Coat of Arms" that they actually fill in. It looks like a shield divided into six sections. There is a list of about 30 questions or completions that I can select but if I want to know more about their backgrounds then the questions that are related to that can be chosen. I do this near the beginning of the quarter as a human development activity.
I find that if I can connect learning to student interests than they are more open to learning. For example, I had a student a few years ago who was in a Rhetoric and Composition class. This student was in law enforcement and was frustrated that he had to take the class that he felt had "nothing" to do with his career path. I learned from previous conversations with the student that he wanted to move up into management and need to earn a degree in order to attain his goal. I explained to him that degree programs are designed to give students a broad knowledge base and that managers are required to communicate effectively with their peers, superiors, and subordinates. He was not aware that this class would help him to build his communication skills. He later attained his goal and sent me a letter to let me know that our conversation made an impact in how he focused on his learning experience. So, I would say that I do ask a series of questions to help identify student interests and things that they learn because they like them. This helps me to tailor my approach to their learning experience in my class regardless of the subject matter.
Hi Jillian! I like this approach! Could you give us an example of how a student might introduce his/her learning experience? Do you ask a series of questions? Is it more informal?
Thanks!
Jay Hollowell
ED106 Facilitator
Understanding diverse learners requires a level of interaction with the students regardless of whether it is a virtual or live classroom. I encourage students to provide an introduction to their learning experiences and to tell me a little about themselves. This way I have some background on the student and can use this information to extend the conversation.
Taking the time to getting to know all of your students is a huge task. However allowing a class session or segment of the class that everyone can discuss their individual backgrounds can be a huge success for everyone involved.
One can also couple that task with a written assignment to gain further insights into their students.
