Feeling emotions involving a class topic or skill moves information into long term memory, so it is a great teaching strategy.
I agree, sometimes just listening to the students
especially the adult learner has alot of past
experiences might share to the education process.
I too have found that when I ask the students to put themselves into the situations we are discussing they seem to understand better.... I've found it allows them to really think about the situation from a personal point of view and they retain the "emotions" they would feel.
Randall, patience is sometimes hard to muster over the long haul, but a valuable virtue.
Janine, indeed that is a great reward. A good teacher works to see this more often in all of his/her students.
Totally agree.
I have mentioned this many times in our staff development. Sometimes it may take "half the course" to switch the lights on, but when they do go on - that experience is "priceless". The student is now "ready" to learn and they are open to the knowledge. But that takes patience on the instructor's part and to believe in the student - that they can succeed.
There is no better feeling than when you see "lightbulbs" lighting up student's face when they get it - unless it is getting it itself! I work and play hard for that reward.
Randall, thanks for sharing your thoughts on what a perfect class would be. I agree with you.
I would have wanted an instructor who had the following qualities: Passion for the subject matter; being there for your students, having them feel that you truly do care for them and their education; empathy - understanding what your students are going through with not only their school work but with their lives. Compassion - wanting to help them to connect to their inner strengths so that they are open to learning.
Humor is a wonderful teaching tool that does exactly what you described to the learner's interest. Thank you for sharing your approach.
I try and use humor inorder to get that emotional spark. Wether it is an anacdote a picture or a joke it seems to really help. I have to be able to picture something inorder to learn and I have found many of my students do to and by doing it in a humerous way it seems to stick.
Students are an important source of feedback, Alan. By assessing our educational approaches, we see opportunities to improve our classes for those learners.
By taking on the perspective of a learner, I am better able to assess the effectiveness of the educational approach I am using for a particular subject. It is an important channel of feedback.
Lisa, I wish I could have been there to hear the students doing voice impersonations, sounds like a winner!
We have fun in my class. Tests are given twice a week, the day before we review. I understand that there are differnet learning levels and encourage all students to stay for the reveiw, about 1/2 of the class does. Then I let the remaining students take charge of the review. I will assist when they are stumped. This week the lead student did the review using voice impersonations. This added a personal twist.
Krista, what a huge complement to you as a teacher. I'd like to be a learner in your class because you are doing all the right things!
It is interesting to think if we were a learner in our class that the students would speak to us as peers and give valuable feedback, Angelina. That would be an interesting thing to hear.
Growing up I always hated school. I always said if I could have a teacher like me I would go to class. So I became a teacher. Students come to class to see what I will do next or not do. They learn and laugh. My 8pm class does not fall a sleep. I have been told by students they could not even go to bed when they got home because I had them laughing about the material taught.
I try to mix lecture labs and games with stories about life experiences.I would like to be a learner in my class to get some feedback from students.
To view from the student perspective - to be reflective is the key to development.
