Learning Process
The use of a variety of instructional methods can help students with learning and retention.
Donald,
What are some of the different instructional methods that have been very successful for you?
Thanks for your input on this.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I incorporate a role playing exercise, where two students each play a part that interact with each other. I also use a PowerPoint presentation combined with demos and hands-on exercises. I have also found, which corroborates with this module, that I have students that get bored easily no matter how well you present the subject matter during lecture or a PowerPoint presentation, but, if you give those same students a physical task and the tools to perform the task, they comprehend the subject matter and perform the task well.
Donald,
The more we can move them from being passive learners to being active learners the more engagement we are going to have. Also the retention of the content is going to be much higher due to the applications being made.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Our program uses a few methods of instruction. In lab, they learn the different skills from a demonstration and then put it into practice. Most students are hands on learners in my program. In lecture, we use Powerpoint presentations in combination with physical models sometimes. I also incorporate crossword and fill in the blank puzzles on the material we have covered the day before. The puzzles work well to reinforce what they have learned.
Linda,
The more variety you can provide in your instructional delivery the more engagement you will have. You are doing such with the different methods you are using. I like the idea of the crossword puzzles as review tools. Sound like fun for the students to do.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I use power points to assist my students with the learning process; depending on the age group of my students and life expericience I use example to assist them with realting to the boring science approach to a more daily life expereince and it is amazing to see the light bulb goes of
Dale,
They are able to see visually the concepts you are teaching them via the power point slides. These images create an even stronger connection in their minds as they move the information from their short term memory into their working long term memory.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I really like to use a variety of instructional methods when I am teaching. I relish the concepts of multiple intelligences and find this application very successful with students.
Joyce,
Through the use of variety and change of pace you can engage students and get them focused on acquiring the needed course content. This is what learning should be about for them.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I greatly agree with that. I am not sure why you are asking me this question. I can only assume it is in response to my remark about training teachers to behave in ways that are not always demonstrated in their training. This is really just an observation. I am a teacher trainer of many years and see a problem with the process. We make a lot of assumptions about teacher learners and take a great deal of short cuts. In the end, they are unable to perform in classrooms well. Typically, they resort to those strategies that they remember from being students themselves. I greatly enjoyed reviewing the information from the last strand, but I did feel that it was a lot of information for a person who doesn't already have a background (prior knowledge of the subject). That person would have difficulty processing all of that. It was just an observation.
Joyce Nash Nadir, Ph.D.
Reading Consultant/Specialist
Joyce,
Thank you for your input and observations on teacher preparation and professional development. As students bring increased challenges into the classroom those of us that do teacher preparation are faced with the need for expanded training of teachers while the courses and time spent in training is being reduced.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It is very important to use multiple intelligences in teaching because no two students learn the same way and the variety help all students learn different way to see information presented.
Joyce,
This is how you personalize your instruction for your students. By offering a variety of learning opportunities and activities you are helping them to use their different learning preferences and intelligences to acquire the needed knowledge and skills.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The variety of instructional mediums i use in my classroom range from powerpoint presentations to hands on demonstration. One method i use everyday is different colors of writing on the white board. It may seem simplistic, but the use of color in my presentation materials separates categories well and highlights important information.
Lauren,
Students like variety and change of pace in their instructional delivery. You are doing such with all of the different things you are doing. I know you are keeping your students engaged and focused for the duration of your classes with these approaches.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
During a power-point, I will have a box of mechanical parts that are related to thier next lab assignment. Each student will take a part from the box, read a slide on the power-point, and try to guess what the part is. It helps to keep them engaged and curious.
Daryl,
This is a fun and engaging way to get students involved. They all get to contribute as well as be problem solvers as they try to guess what the part is.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I also use a lot of pass around objects during lecture. It gives the students a visualization of the mechanics and aides in the electrical flow or how it works under power. What is its function in a sequence of a working circuit.
Jon,
The handling of objects helps the cognitive processing of students. They create a stronger connection between the course content and how that content can be applied in the workplace. Good strategy to use.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
