Making terminology stick
The terminology course that I teach is overall somewhat short, but our class times are lengthy, which equates to covering significant amounts of material. I am always looking for new and fun ways to get my students engaged and involved. I think games are the way to go, making it a fun environment, therefore decreasing anxieties about learning the material. There are so many great suggestions posted, thanks to all and I am excited to learn more. I plan to implement these new strategies the next time I teach terminology.
Emily, I'm glad you are enjoying the challenge. Keep up the good work!
Michele Deck
I am new to teaching, and Medical Terminology was my first class. I learn from the students each day. Keeping them engaged is a challenge I enjoy.
wendy, thank you for sharing this fun, simple visual idea to create memory in your learners.
Michele Deck
I like to use visual aids for my students learning medical terminology. For example, the wood root "gastr" meaning "gastric" or referring to the stomach, I have the students visualize a gas truck, and the tank of the truck is shaped like a stomach. It's fun and my students remember !!
Susan, thank you for seeing that the suggested methods in this course are applicable to your other classes.
Michele Deck
I am looking forward to this course as well. I am not even teaching Medical Terminology this quarter. However, it is one of the classes I usually do teach. I love having the brand new students and helping them get off to a good academic start! Currently I am teaching Pathophysiology and Pharmacology. In both classes I hear myself referring to Medical Terminology often. You are absolutely correct when you say Medical Terminology is the foundation of the student's entire medical education. I am also thinking that I will be able to implement some of the ideas being taught in this course into the classes I am currently teaching.
Joan, thank you for encouraging your learners to make crazy sayings to make the terms stick. That definitely works.
Michele Deck
I also teach A & P so I will often talk a little about the anatomy when I teach the medical words. Students find it more interesting. I also tell them to make up crazy sayings because we will often remember silly things.
Linda, thank you for your enthusiasm. I have invested many years into teaching with these methods. I'm sure you will see positive results with them!
Michele Deck
I am so much looking forward to taking this course. I have been teaching A&P for a few quarters now and just recently taught Medical Terminology. Having now taught both classes, I understand how important it is for the learners to remember the medical terms they were taught. It is the foundation to there medical education. I know review the most common medical terms for each A&P chapter. I am looking forward to the different activities that we will be learning in this course - I imagine I will be able to use them in other courses as well.
Sophia, it is the universal challenge to teach a large amount of content in a short period of time. The best teachers I've had balance that with activity that reviews and reinforces.
Michele Deck
Although the classes I teach are also relatively short in length, they require that lots of material to be covered witin them. I am eager to learn different teaching tools o that that I can make the material both infomative & fun.
Christina, I'm very encouraged by your willingness to try new ideas. Good luck and enjoy!
Michele Deck
