to help develop a plan that appeals to the students interests and addresses his or her weaknesses
Knowing your audience (your students), even if it's very basic information, will help you help them. It will also help you to prepare the students to help themselves. Student should learn the best strategies to improve their own learning, a process called metacognition. By encouraging students to take responsibility for their learning, you will increase their chances for success in your class and others.
It helps to understand learner characteristics because, you can better figure out how to help them in specific area that they struggle with. Example: What I have learned is the adult learner needs more reasurance that they are doing a skill correctly. The younger students tend to be more confident in this area.
Hi Gene,
What has been the biggest benefits of using the team approach in your experience? Do you have any suggestions for new instructors that want to use teams in their classes?
Gary
i certainly agree with you and create teams in every class & spread age, gender, race, etc. throughout the teams to help them become more collaborative and functional rather than dysfunctional.
it helps me revise my syllabus to capture their attention, reduce their anxiety, and show them that i care and want them to set themselves up for success.
Hi Karen,
I love your idea. How impowering this must be for those Students.
Hello All,
By understanding learning Characteristics of Students it can help you adapt you course and teaching techniques to help ensure Student Success. If you known about how Students learn it can help you prepare the course to focus in on those areas which are truly going to reach Students.
It is important to know the characteristics of your students to be able to present material in a way that will include all students. Being aware of the perspective of the student will help you know how to present material that will relate to them.
As an instructor I know how easy it is to get locked into one way of doing things..... the way I learned as a student and the way today's student learns can be vastly different. Older students tend to do well with the "old fashioned" methods but I have found that introducing a variety of teaching methods has helped those learners into the 21st century. Younger students are of the "net" generation and require more stimulus. Incorporating skills that encompass older and younger students as well as those who learn best by listening, writing, and hands on, I have found a happy medium. It makes class more interesting and fun..... not just for my students but for myself included!!
I think that understanding the learners characteristics is very importnat in a learning environment. It put the instructor and the student in a easier setting. The instructor will know better how to aproach the student and the student would better understand the class.
I find that asking my students on the first day of class what their goals are helps me in planning activities.
It helps you pacewhat you are planning to teach. It's better when the whole class is able to catch up on what is being taught.
Learner characteristics define the pathways to effective and productive learning. Understanding how those pathways function is not only helpful, but a necessary component of developing an instructional plan. An essential part of this process is to very early on integrate application of knowledge into the process - learn, apply, learn, apply, etc. That takes "information" and transforms it into useful knowledge. While the threshold for remembering information in a lecture format differs from learner to learner, almost everyone will benefit from activities which help to demonstrate to students how the information can be applied in the "real" world.
I think it will alow me to spend more time with those who need the extra help keeping everyone at the same level
Thanks Gary.
I think I should ask questions that will let me know their knowledge they have but also questions of what they expect to gain from the course.
Hi Maria,
The questions I ask are related to my field. This way I can determine the knowledge the students are bringing to the class. I came up with the questions by looking at the key foundational skills/knowledge that students need to have to get started. Based upon their responses I am able to develop my lectures and activities around their responses.
Gary
What types of questions do you ask for the baseline assessment? Maria
Julie I think you really hit the nail on the head. I agree with your explanation in reference to the comfort levels of different generations.
I believe it would give the instructor an idea as to the learning style of the student. Most adults have built a foundation of life experiences and knowledge that will help in their level of motivation and success in the classroom.
