Repitition is the key, I repeat the material as often as needed and I have the students take notes so the retention level increases by repitiion and reinforcement.
Practical application assignments allow for practical usage of new skills. For example, in a word processing course, assign a project requiring proper formatting, editing, and composition of a report.
As much as possible, I like to give students choices within projects. When teaching spreadsheets, if students use the software for personal reasons, like for budgeting or comparing prices for grocery stores, then they are more likely to remember what they learned. As challenging as it is for some students, I encourage them to create and develop their own design for their spreadsheets. As they work to solve their own problems, they learn more about the program and search for their own solutions.
Students at more entry-level classes, like a basic English class or a basic computer class, may not have all the skills necessary to put together a spreadsheet or a research project from scratch. These students seem to benefit from having a model or outline to follow. While I want to challenge my students, sometimes I find it necessary to give them small steps to follow instead of letting them create the whole project themselves. It's always a balance. But every time, I try to allow students some choice in the project so it becomes personally valuable and rewarding for them.
Hi Clifton,
This is what relevancy and application is all about for students. They hear, learn and then apply their new knowledge in a practical setting. Well done.
Gary
One way for my class is to go into lab and recreate what we had talked about in lecture earlier in the day.
Hi Sharon,
This is a great idea. Thanks for sharing it with us. I know many of us can use it in our classes to get a status check on the learning that has occurred just as the class ends. Gives us insight for planning the next class.
Gary
I have a practice at the end of class I call "Your 'Ah Hah' Moment". It is that moment in class that you learned something new, found a new way to remember something being taught, learned from a mistake or were surprised by an outcome. At the end of class I ask who would like to share their "Ah Hah" moment and generally 3 or 4 students will share something that many others can either relate to or are reminded of that they too learned that day.
Using more than one sense when students are learing new information will help them to retain it better. That goes along with the different learning styles students have. I try to incorporate different styles, hands on, strict lecture, writing assignments and others. I know from myself that the way I learned best had a lot to do with what teaching style was used.
Hi M. Clinger,
You make a key point about the need to explain the "why" for students. Many of them get so involved in the process they lose sight of the end goal.
Gary
Helping the student to understand the "why" behind the learning and how it will apply to their career. Many students do not understand why they must take math or algebra as they assume they will never use it on their job. Helping them see how they will use math or how other courses pertain to their degree will cause the information to "stick" more readily.
I think that first the new material should be shown to the students in different ways so that you make sure that they understand it. Also I think that if you show them how it will help them in their job later then it will help them understand the material better.
Hi Talina,
Good strategy. I teach the same students in a 6 hour block from 4 until 10. I know what you are going through in trying to keep them engaged. Keep up the good work because it sounds like you are keeping them focused for the entire class session.
Gary
In my classes a lot of what we do is hands on and repetition. We have long class hours so sometimes to keep their attention during lectures on new material we will play a group game to go over new materials being discussed and then when we get to the hands on portion of our class time they are ready to apply what they have learned in their group activity.
You can help students retain information by showing applications and illustrations of how the content can be used.
Whenever possible, I try to follow "new information" with a real-world example of how this might be useful. This can be especially helpful when we are discussing vaccinations, disease control and owner compliance. Students seem interested in how they might use the information they just learned and are open to asking questions in relation to the example give.
I am excited to try some of the new ideas, such as pneumonic devices, in my classes. It makes alot of sense to help the student make a connection to the topic, instead of just testing them on it and then never bringing it up again.
Get them to open up about their experiences and help them share it with the class. Other students will empathize and this can improve information retention.
We learn by repetition, so we need to give students opportunities to use new material in a cognitive or tactile way after lecturing or demonstration. The more opportunities that are offered the better they will retain it. Depending on the class - lecture or studio - breaking the material in to bits of informaion also helps.
Also, sometimes less is more - look at the class level, if too much information is given students become cofused and cannot apply the information
Repetition is always the best way for retention of information. Finding alternative ways to repeat the information is helpful.(For example, using review games) IN addition, it is important for instructors to allow the students to conduct reviews. This can be accomplished through mini review lectures where the student acts as the teacher.
Well, at my school the subject is massage and is hands-on. However, I am told by my students that my class has a lot more practice and review than the other courses, so several have told me that they remember the sequence from my class better than others. So yes, opportunities for REVIEW ... and also what I call "embellishments", little extra moves to make their treatments even more wonderful.
