KJ,
Right you are. I am always amazed at the life experiences that my students bring into my classes each phase. I get to learn from them while they are learning from me. It is a growth opportunity for everyone, plus I can use them as resources.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Having a guest speaker is certainly a plus. If the speaker comes from the extership site that could be an added bonus. Often times students are intimidated when they first show up for an externship. The learning process could be enhanced a great deal if the person from the site did a presentation in the classroom. This could eliminate fears and anxiety in this type of learning environment.
Understanding my student population-- both characteristically and from a learning style perspective-- gives me an edge in class. I find what they have worked in, or what they are passionate about, as a way to relate the material to them. I never know what other person in class may benefit from hearing about "accounting for a greenhouse" or such things. The experiences our career college students bring to the table, enhance the learning of others. We just need to know how to facilitate that learning.
Kelly Jo (KJ)
It will you better to plan your lesson plan, accordingly to students capabilities.
Tessie,
Good point and one that instructors need to remember as they do their instructional planning.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Knowing learner characteristics is akin to knowing how the learner learns. It makes it easier to engage the learner because you know the things that interest them. Therefore you can increase their levels of commitment by giving examples that are familiar to them and that are close to their hearts.
Lima,
Good point and one we need to remember when we enter the classroom. We wouldn't want a "one size fits all" education for ourselves so we shouldn't offer it to our students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Wesley,
One of the pay offs of teaching is impacting the lives of students for the good. Knowing enough about a student to help him or her be successful is a powerful motivator for us instructors. You make a good point about us needing to be able to know and support our students in our classes.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
One size fits all does not apply in education. An understanding of learner characteristics allows instructors to cater support and encouragement that meet individual learner's needs.
Dr. Meers,
The more an instructor can understand the student the better learning experience. Instructors need to understand the voice of students. On that note a good instructor will neeed to know how a student learns and the motivation behind their learning. Also, an instructor needs to make sure that if a student disability exists special accomdations are made for the student. Instructors need to make evaluations if students learn better with on hands activities vs a lecture.
Dr. Meers,
The more an instructor can understand the student the better learning experience. Instructors need to understand the voice of students. On that note a good instructor will neeed to know how a student learns and the motivation behind their learning. Also, an instructor needs to make sure that if a student disability exists special accomdations are made for the student. Instructors need to make evaluations if students learn better with on hands activities vs a lecture.
I believe having a better understanding will help provide your students with better understanding
Because of the many different types of learners ( the seers, hearers, and doers) we encounter, this allows us, as instructors, to be challenged to get the message across to the entire group through various teaching methods. Whether we explain a process, demonstrate a process, guide someone through a process, or enable someone to perform the work by teaching the lesson themself.
Getting to know your students helps you in your teachng methods because you find out what it takes to motivate them. Then once you motivate them they are eager to learn and will be more attentive when you are instructing them.
Lawrence,
You have touched upon a critical element in instructional planning. You need to "read" the student population you have and then plan according to their life experiences, learning preferences and support needs. Good points, thanks for sharing them.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Fully comprehending the students learning styles is critical for lesson plan development. I instruct in a construction program, so my delivery methods must be varied. If I have a group of only purely academics I concentrate more hands on, as the theory will come across more quickly. Likewise, if there is a majority of experience in the construction field, then the theory is presented more heavily, as the hands on is generally known. The instructional methods are fluid, dependent on the class make-up.
Maryellen,
I use former students myself for the reasons you state. They help to make the course content real for the current students. They also help to motivate the students because the current students can see themselves in that career as a result of the former students sharing their experiences.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I teach adults in Medical Coding. I like to bring in past students who can share not only their learning experience in my class, but what they have been doing in the real world. Some of the current students seem to focus more after one of these talks, because they fully realize that they really are going to use and need everything they learn in the real job market
Gayle,
I think I may have downloaded the same template. It is easy to use and my student love playing the game when we do review. The template makes it almost like we are playing the real Jeopardy game minus Alex.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Nevine,
Good point and one we need to always remember as we step into the classroom or lab.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
