Knowing Styles of Instruction
Instructors should show respect to the students and develop a trust with the students as a whole. Instructor should demonstrate a variety of learning style for the many different learning styles of the students, and understand the difference between your traditional student and the adult learner.
Trust and support are very important to students. There must be consistency also. Students need respect, support and structure.
Nestor,
Students really like these stories because as you know they increase the value of the content being taught. The more connections between content and application the more relevancy they see in what is being taught. Enjoy those "ah-ha" moments as they are what keeps us coming back to the classroom.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have had tremendous success telling stories and anecdotes to illustrate complex medical concepts. The students grasp the concept and are able to utilize it immediately. This almost magical act leaves the students in shock of how this complex concept was seamlessly infused into their brains. I like to call this the "ah-ha" moment.
Jen,
You are right about it taking work but the results are worth it. The more variety we can introduce into our instructional delivery the more engagement we are going to have. Customizing our instruction is a part of what we need to do each time we teach one of our courses so we make sure we are meeting the needs of our current students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Understanding, and trying to teach to, a variety of learning styles is the right path. It's not always easy, but getting to know each student is the best way to understand their learning styles.
Jackie,
I think your analysis of effective teaching methods for adults is right on. We need to respect them and the life experiences they bring to the class while maintaining control of the learning environment so the course continues to move forward. This way the goals of both the students and the instructor will be achieved.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I've seen instructors teach by "authority of subject matter" and fail abysmally. I've seen instructors teach by "trust and support" and succeed beyond wildest expectations. I've seen yet other instructors teach through a combination of those two styles and reach the majority of their students.
It's my opinion that didactic, authoritarian teaching methods with adult learners is often the incorrect method of instruction because it turns the students off personally, and, because of that disengagement, the students fail to grasp anything of lasting value in the class.
Ava,
Respect and trust are part of the foundation needed to establish rapport with students. So the more we can demonstrate both early in the course the quicker this process starts for the students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
