What are the recommendations for teaching an 8 week night class. I am teaching courses with content that i am professionally very comfortable with and enthusiastic in teaching. I use many of the teaching training methods. I am a litigator and much of the advice is similar in handling a jury. The real concern or difficulty is tapping in to individual learning styles. There never seems to be enough time in such a short session.
I am a Clinical Instructor at a VN program. On the first day clinical, I usually ask my students if they have any medical field experience, if not, what other job experiences they have that might be helpful in this field. By knowing a little about their previous work experiences, I learn about their character and know how they can learn better and share their experiences with other students. For example, when I have a student who has worked as an Emergency Department Technician, I know that this student most likely has a strong personality and would be good at leading do to knowing what needs to be done in an emergency situation. In my opinion, knowing students work history and their likes and dislikes, helps the instructor have a better understanding of the different types of characters which will help in Instructional Planning process.
I also have my students share about themselves, why they chose this career and where they would like to see themselves in regards to the career in the future.
We've done this as well. Also, we incorporated ice breaker games where we ask the students, "if you were a fruit, what would it be and why?" It's fun and gives the instructor a characteristic of that student.
Donna,
You are fortunate to have access to this information as it gives you a deeper understanding of why your students are enrolled and what their background experiences have been. This is a great foundation upon which to build as you start off a new course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Good Evening….. at the onset of a new class all students are introduced to each other. This is a key activity and shows which students will be outgoing and which students may be more shy and reserved…. at this point we can see which students may actually be frozen with fear of public speaking in class and which are attention seekers and this begins the process of ice breaking.
All students complete biographies which give the instructors an insight to their backgrounds, experiences, and expectations.
All this information is evaluated on an individual basis and all instructors appropriately introduce the classes with a general understanding of the diverse student dynamic.
Caitlin,
Great to hear that this strategy will become part of your instructional processing. I know you and your students are going to benefit from you having and being able to recall this background information.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Learning about your students and being able to incorporate their experiences only enhances learning. Because I teach in an online environment I am unable to put a face with a name. As a result, I have issues keeping up with each student’s individual backgrounds. I really enjoyed the video clip regarding keeping cards with students’ information and reviewing them before class. I will definitely be implementing this strategy.
D,
How do you learning about the learning styles of your students?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
You will be able to reach all learning styles in your teaching.
Nieva,
I like where you are coming from. I think every student in a new environment and class, has some sort of anxiety. They wouldn't be human if they didn't. All of them have different motivations, and all of them are trying to fit in, in their own way. Your motivation technique works for all of those motivators, because frustration causes everyone to lose sight of their reason for being there.
Dave
Randy,
What are some ways you use this information in your instructional planning?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
IT help me to teach in away that they can learn
Knowing the back ground helps
Kelly,
This is a great way to integrate the students into the learning process and to increase their personal value as students. Having a connection with their learning leader helps them to see the reason why they are in school and how their future can unfold.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In the technical school I educate in, we enroll and start new students every 3 months. On the first day of class, we do a meet and greet with the returning students and new students. It gives the class the opportunity to learn each others name and maybe one thing about them. It help in finding common ground besides being enrolled in class. During the first week of class, as an instructor I take 5 minutes one on one with each new student to get to know just them. What is their learning style, what are their strengths, and are there any potential problems that might have an influence on completion of the course. Perhaps transportation, day care, housing or possible medical issues. This quick 5 minutes has let us as educators be pro active in student retention.
Students family and past relationships motivates and dictates their goals in life.
Understanding of learner charteristics help the instructional planning process by allowing the instructor the opportunity to prepare the most effective method of deliver for learning.
JOSEPH,
With this type of opening and introductions everyone can settle into the course and learn more about each other. The more they get to know each other the more comfortable they will be when they are asked to work together.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I always start my class with everyone introducing themselves
And have students give a brief explanation of why they took
This course. It gives everyone the opportunity to listen to
Everyone's background and brakes the ice. I also inform them
To meet with me after class if they have any fears about the program or if they have different learning styles. Then I know
How to plan to accommodate them so they will be
Comfortable. Joe glaneuski
