Hilda,
Students like variety and change of pace in their learning so the more you can offer of both the more you will be appealing to their different learning preferences.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It is good to remember that our students have different learning styles. Because students learn differently, our teaching styles should reflect that. I prefer a balance of instructional materials and methods to increase interest in the classroom.
Ellen,
Good strategy to follow because it benefits both the student as well as you the instructor. One of the major payoffs as an instructor is the relationship you can build with students and help them to move forward with their career goals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Maria, I have noticed that different students excel when their learning style is embraced. Some write well and some present well, either way they are getting the information and learning occurs. Arlene
Identifying the characteristics of the learner in the class allows the instructor to customize the lesson/instruction. Everyone learns differently and often the information needs to be delivered for multiple learning styles.
This is vital in how you deliver the content to your audience. Ultimately, I am in favor of a varied approach but, know that I have students of a certain temperament, I will adjust approach and objectives to be both challenging and fun for them.
taking the time to familiarize oneself with students and their individual needs can help the instructor design lesson plans that take advantage of student strengths, like life and work experience, and integrating new information in a way that is relevant.
In my profession, understanding and mastering personalities are two main components to being successful. Again, by understanding each individual's personality, you are able to "get through" to them and are effectively able to guide them down the path to success. As a general rule, I use the same method of teaching for all of my students. However, depending on their level of class completion, I adjust my instruction. For example, for my senior level students, I challenge them more and make them search their knowledge base for the answer. This is because, I know it's in there, they just need to dig in and figure it out. As for my frosh/soph level students, I may not challenge their knowledge as adamantly and forcefully as the others, but I still instruct in a way that allows them to discover they do know the required material/skills and I provide a little more guidance. Across the board, I know some I have to physically demonstrate and allow them to imitate, some I have to diagram what I am trying to get across, and others I can verbalize the material. I also let them know that they can ask questions anytime the feel they need to. I may not always give them a direct answer, but in the end, the students ultimately are able to successfully come to a solution.
Gary,
This is a great memory aid to help you to focus on your students and provide the support they need. Good way to customize and personalize your teaching efforts.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Kali,
Yes, it does. This is how you customize your instruction to meet the current class of students. In addition, you can provide more accurate support to them by knowing more of their history.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
When I can create an "inventory" or "pie chart" in my mind about the various learner characteristics in my class, I can direct my attention to the strengths and weaknesses of the broad learner profile as a whole.
I agree knowing where my students are coming from allows me to personalize lesson plans and activities to be more meaningful and engaging.
Every individual retains information on all different levels.n As an instructor I take each
individual into consideration and break down my instructions so everyone grasps the concept of the material.
Linda,
Right you are and the key is finding the balance between the two as you do your instructional planning and work with your current students. As you know each class has a different personality so the blend of the two needs to be customized to each each student and this can be a lot of fun to plan and do. It lets us be creative in our approach.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Michael,
Right you are. This is where it can be a lot of fun being a teacher because you get to be creative in your instructional planning. When an activity that you have planned works it is a great feeling because you know you have nailed it with your students and they got it.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Their are two forms of learning levels in higher education: Pedagogy & Andragogy. Pedagogy is repetitve learning, instrcutor lead and the student masters the skills. Andragogy is self-directed learning,task oriented,problems solvers and the learning is revelant to the reason they are in school.
It helps with determining the optimal delivery strategy for the different learner characteristics.
Kathleen,
Right you are. Students like variety in their learning and the use of different instructional methods helps them to stay engaged while getting to learn via their learning preferences.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think that is why in the student surverys they are asked if the "instructor employed a variety of instructional methods..." Different students learn differently.
Maureen,
Right you are about balancing the sharing of information with the human factor of support. The human factor is what keeps the students coming back because they see that they have your support and that you are there to help them be successful if they will put forth the effort. Each student is unique and they know as an instructor you will do your best to meet their individual learning needs. This is an awesome responsibility but also a tremendously rewarding part of being an educator.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
