ED 101
I just completed the ED 101 course and found many valuable pieces of information. I am taking on a new instructor role at a professional school where I will be mostly supervising the students-- not ever lecturing. At first I was skeptical about how this course could help me if I am not in front of the classroom, but many sections of the course will aid in my new role. The sections discussing the roles of an instructor and defining professionalism pointed out many things that apply to instructors in all roles. Also, the sections discussing the learning styles of students were very interesting and great to know. If a student is struggling in a certain learning situation, it is helpful to know other ways to present the subject or skill to be learned. I am glad to have taken this course and feel better equipped to start my new position.
I completed the ED 101 course. I already knew I was an alternative learner. When I was a student in college, I was taking a multiple choice test in anatomy and the professor saw me doing some things, which he later asked me questions about. He then referred me to the Learning Resource Center at the college I attended and they tested me and confirmed I am dyslexic. I had always had a problem with reading, always in remedial reading courses, and defined by my High School counselor as being lazy. What I did learn, I learned from hearing. I remember most of what I hear, and the downside is, if I hear it wrong, it's in there. I have been hard on instructors because when I know they say something which is incorrect and advise them of the error, they don't take it well. But, I take it seriously because it might be a building block to something else I will learn in subsequent lessons, and if I have learned it wrong, it adversely affects what my conclusion and abstract thinking tells me is true.
The most helpful part of ED 101 is learning there are people who use different senses to learn the material in different ways. Some people can read and understand, building a picture of what they have read in their mind and use this as a way to develop a concrete concept of what they are intended to learn. Some people desire tactile touch and real life experience working with what they are attempting to learn. Whatever the learning style, it is learning and it will hopefully bring about the same end, mastery of a subject.
As I have said, I am an auditory learner, and I have an exceptional memory. I use this to be a professional musician with over 800 songs I am able to perform, from memory, no cheat sheets. Hopefully the students will learn to master their skills, from memory and knowledge, and refer to the cheat sheets when they need them. Probably the most important concept we should teach, our students should know where to look to find the answers to the questions from the resources we have pointed them to.
Carl,
I too agree with your thougths on the course. Great memory skills.
