John,
This is so effective when used frequently and in a way that shows the students how much we value them and their input. Good point.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I agree totally that we need to actively listen and make students feel that we value their input.
It gets them more comfortable in class and then with then be more focused on the information we are sharing with them.
Make sure that all students that want to speak are given the opportunity. Summarize what they have said to demonstrate that you have listened to them and understood what they were trying to communicate.
Bess,
What are some way that you do this effectively? Thanks.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
listen and respond to questions from students
within a reasonable amount of time,let them know
ther're special.
I ask students their opinion on activities. I can test students over and over but there is no way yo know if the student is really absorbing the information without asking.
I tell students I want their honest opinion about what worked in the course and what didn't. I don't want to end up using an activity or lecture if the student is not actually learning from it.
John,
Good for you in terms of refocusing the students. They will try and lead the instructor off the learning pathway at times and it is our job to keep the class moving forward and achieving the set goals.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Mary,
I agree. Knowing they are valued for their opinions and that their input will be considered is a strong motivator for students, especially the older students with many life experiences. It helps them to see that they can use their life experiences to be successful in their classes.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
In my field (Technology), students often have personal opinions that sometimes gear away from the actual class topic. Although, I feel that it is important to listen to students, it is also important to keep them on the right track. I often have to listen to new ideas, take note of the new ideas, then re-focus the attention to the topic at hand. Adult learners need constant validation; however, they also need to understand that they need to stay on-track.
Taking time during lectures to get the opinions of all that want to contribute and validating them makes the students more interested and feel capable of achieving whatever it is they want to achieve. Many think that they cannot achieve goals, they are too big or they don't fit in. Allowing their opinions to matter is a large step in the right direction to mentor students to be all they can be.
Showing them the positives of their opinion and relating it to actions in the world around them helps each student understand why their opinion matters. It is always key to have the students support their opinion with some factual basis.
I often ask my students if they would understand something better by seeing a live or video demonstration. It helped me a lot when I was a college student and it very often helps my students too. It helps them relax a bit too since it's not lecture format.
Margo,
Good point about feedback. It is so important to teaching and learning success. The way we grow is through the exchange of information and feedback.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Pamela,
Listening is a powerful teaching tool. The more we listen the more we learn as well as show our students we care about what they are saying to us. Good point, thanks for sharing it with us.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Listen and thank them for sharing. Provide feedback by saying good point, you are correct, thank you and etc
LISTEN! Listening to your students and commenting back to them reflectively lets them know you heard them and that you care about what they are saying. You can learn from students too! Let them know you are still learning too!
Praising the student by using his or her name and citing the opinion in class is one way of giving importance when students interact and share wha they have learned.
Repeat what they have said and add that it is a good way to look at it.
Emily,
Good way to personalize the course content to each student. They get to see they are being valued for themselves and what they bring to the class. Getting to share this information just strengthens their engagement in the class.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
A valuable tool in culinary arts is to ask students about the cuisine their families cook at home. A good lead-in might be to ask a student of a "different" ethnicity if their family cooks a different version of what we're cooking in class that day. Following up with a personal (chef-instructor to student)request for a recipe or for a 10 minute presentation on a favorite family dish develops trust and shows the student(s) that their lives and personal proclivities matter
