Student Response
What has been the response of learners when you have used activities in the past?
Ruth,these two important items you have stressed significantly affect learner success.
Michele Deck
The Learners have enjoyed the activities in my classes and understand my objectives better for the topic. They also get to know each other better.
They are more involved in the classroom and you are having fun while learning:)
I have also used Jeopardy in my class and the students respond well. I can't wait to try some of the new ones I learned.
Tara, the right activities can be an effective way to build memory of content. You now have proof.
Michele Deck
Hudson, thank you for sharing your successful ideas. Obviously, your studnets are the lucky learners!
Michele Deck
Ruth, thank you for sharing your success. What I love about this activity is that it proves to the students they are really learning this content.
Michele Deck
Last week, I used the Secret Identity to teach organ systems. After determining what their organs were, the students then went to the board and wrote their organs under the correct system. It was so well received that I'm working up a Secret Identity game for the pharmacology segment in my other class on Monday. Thank you for such a great idea!
Students are very competitive. I've used the Jeopardy game in my classroom and they seem to have a great time with that.
These are great ideas! I especially like the secret identity for learning terminology, definitions, etc. I think I'll try this next week!
I have two activities that I use at the end of each clinical rotation to reinforce basic nursing concepts and reward students for knowledge and assessment ability.
I have a game called 'Nursing Knowledge Trivia' where the students are asked questions on everything from lab values to nursing diagnoses. Each student that answers a question correctly gets a $5.00 gift card.
I also have a challenge called "Physical Assessment Smackdown.' First, I divide the students into groups. I use our simulator and plug in several abnormal findings on the assessment. Each group has fifteen minutes to do a physical assessment.
The group that gets the assessment correct or closer than the other groups wins. Each student in the group gets a $15.00 gift card.
I have found that many of my students are very competitive which helps them to be more engaged. They talk about the activity for weeks after and they do tend to remember more of the content this way.
John, thank you for sharing you successful relay races in your med term course. Getting the students moving and thinking is essential to learning a profession.
Michele Deck
I use relay races to engage my class in groups. It fosters a great active learning environment plus it helps students who struggle with med. term. My students help each other to figure out their mistakes by explaining what their incorrect answer actually meant and they give examples of what they do to remember the term. It is a great way to incorporate peer learning.
Wendy, I love that you are using teams with a designated spokesperson. That way, there is equal discussion despite shy learners in a team format, but best points stressed by spokesperson.
Michele Deck
In the past we have used teams to review for tests. The students love being able to work in groups to review. That way everyone participates in the activity. One person out of both teams is nominated as the speaker, but the group can discuss each question.
Tina, so many instructors do not plan for participation in "lecture" classes. We know that is not the only method to use in any class. Variety is the key.
Michele Deck
My students have always been very receptive to participating in learning activities. It breaks up the monotony of lecture, helps them retain the information better, and makes the learning environment active instead of passive.
Ryan, creating a safe environment is key to learning. Putting people on the spot is something I avoid as well.
Michele Deck
