By having a 'working knowledge' of the learning characteristics of the students in the classroom, an instructor is able to construct the presentation of the materials to a level that will be accepted by the members of that class. The way to acquire that 'working knowledge' would be to have a pre-class meeting (meet and greet) that asks questions of the students that will give the instructor that insight.
Hi Craig,
The mixing up of students is a good plan. The more you can introduce them to other students through small group work and activities the more you are helping them to learn how to work with others once they are out in the workplace. I know this will be of good benefit to your students.
Gary
Hi Linda,
The gathering of this information really helps you to understand your students and how you can plan for their learning preferences. Also, the students really appreciate your effort to learn more about them through these methods. This demonstrates to them that you care about them and their success in your course. This establishes a real positive setting for the course to come.
Gary
The more you know about the students background and capabilities directly relates to how you can cater to their personal learning needs.
I attempt to have teams composed of a cross section of ages and ethnicities. I also try to ensure a gender balance. Finally, I try to avoid having teams of people who work together in the same organization.
An understanding of learner characteristics helps to enhance the instructional planning process. Identifying the students individual needs helps an instructor in supporting and encouraging success while maintaining focus on course content. I think it also helps in building a fair and balanced learning envirnoment for all students.
The first class session of each term, I have my new students complete a Student Profile, which includes general questions concerning their personal life such as whether they are holding a full or part-time job while going to school, who is their support system at home, which gives me an idea of their home environment. These questions help me to understand the other stressors they have in their lives besides school. I also ask the motivation for enrolling in this class at this point in their lives. Finally, I ask for insight with regard to how they best learn. We then do an exercise on the different learning styles and what they can do to implement the best study skills for their learning style. I have received a great deal of positive feedback from the students after completing that exercise.
Well this relates back to understanding the student’s learning style. By looking to understand our learner’s characteristics, we are evaluating their learning style. This would help use to identify the best way to help teach the curriculum to our learners and the type of tools/ resources we should create to help reinforce what is being taught.
Hi All,
What are some of the methods you use to learn more about your students and their characteristics? I know this is important information so I like to have instructors share how they get the information and use it in their planning.
Thanks.
Gary
It provides a base for a teacher to begin their vision and mission for the lesson. It helps the teacher to prepare what types of learning tools they will use and what type of dialogue to have with the students. It helps the teacher to reach the student and meet them where they are.
Knowing the characteristics of your students will help you in how to plan your instructional material and how each student comprehends the material.
Helps to understand sstudents as individuals and thier individual needs for instructions.
That is awesome, Gary! I have my students read him in one of my schools.
Hi David,
Well said and right on target. This is what being a good instructor begins with. You have to plan and organize or you are not going to have positive experiences in the classroom.
Gary
Hi June,
Yes that is what it is. Some years ago I worked with Dr. Gardner and his staff on ways to assess multiple intelligences. Over the last few years in my research I have developed an assessment of the intelligences that we use with our students. This way we can focus on the dominate intelligences of each student and target their learning preferences.
Gary
Whatever you do and how you go about it, it all comes down to planning things out ahead of time. By the time you recognize the unusual cases you may have already lost the student. If you have "all" of the angles covered and techniques built into the structure of the class ahead of time it makes recognizing and adapting easier and quicker.
Jerry: You say so much with few words. I am sure you are a veteran instructor and have found ways to discern various student styles. What tells do you look for in your students that tip you off to their differnt characteristics?
teach to different students different styles
You can organize your lesson plans based on how each learner comprehends the material.
I use two types of groups in my classes: one group is randomly chosen, and the other is formed by students choosing their partners. I find that this not only fosters social netwoking, but it also gives students a chance to meet and interact with peers they ordinarily wouldn't choose as partners.
