Tammy ,
Learning by doing does help in the retention of information. Trial and error also allows the student to learn through their own mistakes.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
When I am instructing my students in the lab, I make sure that I keep in mind the different learning styles. I also keep in mind that each person is different. Our labs are all hands on so I will instruct them on how to do certian things and then I let them do it for me. I will then tell or show them what they are doing wrong. They seem to be able to learn easier that way.
I work in the motorsports technical training field and we make a point to included the different learning style approach into our curriculum with books, lecture, video and hands on lab.
I have found this to be the most effective method however there always seems to be few that need a bit of extra one on one focus.
John,
Sometimes the "A" student has mastered what it needs to pass a course with such a grade. The "common sense" students often are those focusing on the learning.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
James,
Facilitating the learning as you do helps the students become more engaged. Thank you for your post.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I give my students enough information to get them started in the lab and then let them explore the task on there own while i monitor their work. If I see that they are straying of task I guide them back. They are ussually a little slow getting started on their first day but after that they just take off.
I teach in a Technical College focusing on the HVAC industry, my classes train all walks of life, how electricity works and how to be safe around it. I pace my labs so everyone gets to the same stopping point, before we move on, to testing and trouble shooting. The higher GPA students as you call them are encouraged to help their fellow students. No touching their fellow student’s labs (safety) just point and talk. Once the first lab is complete then I technically challenge them all with labs that if you over think the problem, Higher GPA folks, they can be very difficult. The simple approach common sense folks do better at some of these, thus building the confidence of all.
Fredrik,
Students probably enjoy the group work on the PCs?
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I also work in an automotive technical school.
We have class lectures & projects. We also have students work individually or in groups on PC's for web information & work on lab projects individually & in groups.
Bryan,
This is a good mix of methodologies. It would be interesting to see the workout class.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I teach courses in exercise physiology/exercise science. I try to make all my lectures have a visual, auditory, literature, and hands-on component to the lecture. I like to teach and instruct while actually doing the activity. For example, if I am lecturing about anaerobic glycolysis, we will do a lactate accumulating workout so the student can feel what is happening in their bodies while learning about the subject.
Kathy,
Wonderful post. Thanks for sharing. I hope the other instructors take what you share and use in their course.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Adam,
Thank you for your post. Do you use any group activities?
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
First of all, I wish years ago, when I was a student that I would have been taught about the different learning styles....I mean I knew then & I know now how I learn, but I didn't know it was a specific type of learning style....I'm sure back then if I knew what was going on I would have done even better....
I definitely share all of this with my students..At a previous job where I taught I was Program Chair I helped other instructors in assessing students with their learning styles...Some students still do not understand what a learning style is....so I give severals examples.....I myself for example....Must have MAP directions written down in BOLD & must read over those directions severals times...thus I am very VISUAL...where as my hubby can just listen 1 time to MAP directions & even if its 3 weeks later her can drive directly to the spot....very AUDIBLE....So I give this example to the students & then I ask them how can they relate the type of learning style & or teaching style that they would want to learn how to take a blood pressure, make a bed, perform a head to toe assessment, perform Venipuncture....etc etc etc
We use a combination of lecture, self reading, & hands on. The hands on combines specific tasks that follow the directions & critical thinking skills of operating strategies.
Ebony,
Do you have the students work in groups and watch each other? If not, try it.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Victor,
Try to find more ways for students to help each other. The retention of learning is greater when they are helping each other.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
After going over lab demonstrations in medical assisting training, I practice the demonstrations with students several times until they feel comfortable with completeing the final check off.
I have found that a good, detailed briefing with lots of q and a help me see posible issues, then watch in lab as they work on the projects and try present info in different ways till they understand. I have also found other lab team members may understand and will help each other. They seem to learn from each other quite well (they speak the same language), I just have to listen and be sure they are getting it right. Watching and listening to them talk helps me develop new ways to present info to reach more students easier.
Donna ,
Retention of information is at its highest when students teach each other.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
