Demo + Student Intercation
I teach at a culinary school and most students that attend, typically lean towards the "visual learning" side. Saying that, if they aren't involved in the lecture part of class, their interest seems to wain pretty quick. One strategy that was offered to me from another instructor was to involve the students in the demo for the class.
Have 1-2 students prepare the dish as you walk them through the steps for the class to see. This wouldn't work for every element we teach, but if it builds on items that know, it could be effective.
This could also translate into a scenario of peer learning as well. Which could make the process and outcome stick with the students longer.
Jason,
Another method is to break up the lecture and demo into small pieces. Lecture for no more than 10 minutes, demo for 10 minutes or so and then repeat. Lecture and demo are both one way, teacher to student. Think of ways to make both two way and involve the student.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Henry,
Do you stop and ask questions during the demo? Ask students "what should I do next?" Finding ways to interact with the students during the demo helps to keep their attention.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
When it is possible I like to do a demo for the students directly after lecturing on the task to be performed. The lecture is still fresh in their mind and also gives them a chance to make adjustments to the notes.
Another automotive instructor here as well, and I am a huge advocate for demonstrating how a task is to be successfully completed. I often go into "demo mode" to break up a class discussion. As we are covering a topic in class I will gather the students in the shop environment and perform a certain task that they will be responsible to complete in their schedule lab days. I find that this technique re-enforces the class discussion objectives, makes the students more apt to successfully completing a grading lab task, and most of all GETS THEM OUT OF THE CLASSROOM ENVIROMENT for a while.
Ian,
The group work and students helping each other does strengthen the learning.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I also teach in a technical school and when i demo a task i find that having the students as a group perform the demo themselves while i instruct and supervise gets tham the most interested in the task as well as involved.
That is a great idea. I teach in a automotive program school. I have demos I have worked into every class i teach. I feel that it never gets boring and students then interact and share information better. You can talk about how something is done all day long but it won't get translated to 80% of the class. Involvement is the key to Success!
Idealy combination of collaborative learning with demo give student full avantage of communication ,skills and motivation
thank you for the suggestion Matt! I will try that out in my lab. I teach Physical Therapist Assistants and that would work well I believe!
matt,
Keep it up. Sounds like success can breed success.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
