Listening to students comments
WE as instructors think we have to be over the top with our students, but if take time with them thay will see how easy they can learn somthing hard
Hi Candy,
Listening is key. I had to train myself to listen more and talk less.
Patricia
I often have to remind my elf to be a good listener. I feel as an instructor that I have to be ready to answer anything the tell me. Yet when I allow the student to completely spell out their comment(s), my responses are so much better, because I am not focusing on what I am going to say as much as what they are telling me.
Hi Jennifer,
I've always said students learn a lot from us, but we learn a lot from students as well both professionally and personally. My students teach me a lot of things not pertaining to academics.
Patricia
I love listening to student comments. I encourage open discussion when I teach and it inspires so much more out of my lectures. They will make a comment on a topic and then I am able to expand on it. I have definitely learned a lot from my students.
Hi Thomas,
I was just the opposite. I made it known immediately to my teachers/professors when I did not undertstand, however everyone is different, and I certainly understand your stance on this.
Patricia
Sorry Patricia, but I do not agree that students will let you know when they don't understand. Some students are embarrased that the other students seem to understand ( which many times they don't) and so they are afraid to show their lack of understanding. The dedicated students (those who usually get very good grades) will approach me after class. But many just want to get out of there and hope some other student can explain it to them.
My personal experience was as a student and no one in the class understood what the instructor was teaching for two weeks. Everytime he would ask if we understood, we would say YES, we understand( but we really didn't). After two weeks he said one statement that brought it all together. You should have heard the unanimous OHHHHHHHH, now we get it. We all started laughing. He knew exactly what he was doing.
That was almost 30 years ago, and was a valuable lesson when I started teaching. Students will usually say that they understand, when in reality they don't. That is why I HATE instructors who enjoy talking "over-the-heads" of their students, just for an ego trip.
Instructors need to teach at the level of what the students need to learn, not at the level the instructor is at.
Tom
I agree that we need to listen to student comments, however,(depending on the student)we may be opening Pandora's Box. Sometimes, students get a little extra with their comments, and I find myself having to clean it up before I can proceed with the discussion. Despite these little distractions, I believe it is a vital for the application of learning.
Hi Danny,
You have it! I teach all subject matters from a very elementary perspective. I assume that no one knows anything, and by doing this I am able to capture all students.
Patricia
I have learned over the last year not expect to much from students as far as prior knowledge goes. Some of them can't even mop a floor, so I tend to try and start from the begining or basics and keep it simple.
Hi Anthony,
Isn't it funny how what you think may be complicated for students, they actually get, and vice versa? The most important thing is that your students let you know when they don't understand.
Patricia
I also find that sometimes what I would think is hard for them becomes the complete opposite. After either a demo or lecture I ask them to tell me if there is anything to be repeated or needed to go over again. Most of the time the class chooses together what they may have not understood.
Hi George,
A great characteristic of an instructor is to be a great listener. Students want to be heard and listened to. It makes them feel important.
Patricia
Yes, it is very important to listen to student comments. We need to be open to new ideas and learning styles in order to help them to do well.
Hi Gary,
I always try to break things down to my students level. I make it known to them that they can grasp the concepts, but I teach everything as though no one knows anything about it. I never assume prior knowledge from students about a particular concept.
Patricia
