Understanding Student Characteristics | Origin: ED102
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Student Retention Methods --> Understanding Student Characteristics
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
Understanding the characteristics of my students will enable me, as an instructor, to identify their needs. Their motivation for taking this course is important to know. It will help establish the trust relationship that adult learners desire. Adult learners face fears like will they be able to acquire a new skill and become successful after being layed off a good paying factory job? While younger adults will be more focused on peers and socializing and belonging, more mature adults need to feel safe in the classroom and feel confident that they will succeed.
The idea of having students fill out forms to tell a bit about themselves from the first Harvard clip was quite useful. It would be extremely beneficial to have a clear image of people's starting points and some of their life experiences to be able to tie in more direct ways that the lesson plan applies to their day to day life.
Various Human Factors that Drive and Motivate people to achieve success!
I appreciated the suggestion of the instructor not being responsible to deal with external or upper company issues and being confident to just be a listener. It alleviates a lot of the pressures they are exposed to.
It is important to understand the background and diversity of the class as a whole. With the potential age differences the instructor has to remain cognizant of the life stages and challenges that go with those stages of life. The instructor also has to remain cognizant of the unique challenges associated with the different life stages.
I like the idea of going into the classroom to look at the environment through the eye of my students to better understand their needs and build awareness of the classroom setting I have created. This is something I will be doing for all of my courses.
Students learn differently because their experiences, personalities, interests, and backgrounds affect how they understand and remember information.
Experiences: Students who have had different experiences may connect new information to what they already know. For example, a student who has played a sport may understand lessons about teamwork more easily because they can relate them to their own experiences.
Personality: Some students are naturally outgoing and enjoy group discussions, while others may prefer working quietly on their own. A student who is more confident may ask questions often, while a shy student might learn better by thinking first and then writing down their ideas.
Interests: Students usually learn more easily when a topic connects to something they enjoy. Someone who loves animals might become more interested in science when lessons involve wildlife.
Learning preferences: Some students understand ideas better through pictures and examples, while others prefer reading, listening to explanations, or practicing something themselves.
Overall, there is no single way that all students learn best. Their experiences and personalities can influence what helps them understand, remember, and stay interested in what they are learning.
Understanding student characteristics has helped me recognize that every student brings different experiences, learning styles, strengths, challenges, and goals into the classroom. As an instructor, it is important to understand these differences and create an environment where students feel supported, respected, and motivated to learn.
I intend to apply this by getting to know my students individually, paying attention to how they learn and respond to instruction, and adjusting my teaching methods when needed. I also want to encourage students to ask questions, stay engaged, and take ownership of their progress. In a hands-on welding environment, understanding each student’s needs can help me provide better demonstrations, feedback, and opportunities for additional practice.
My goal is to build positive relationships with students while maintaining clear expectations and accountability. I believe that when students feel that their instructor cares about their success, they are more likely to stay engaged and continue working toward completing their program.
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Understanding that each student is different, with different experiences, and different ways of learning helps to create better instruction for each student.
Student's past experiences and how they relate to the current subject matter is important for the learning process to take place. If will allow them to have a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Furthermore, hearing those experiences will help classmates gain a deeper understanding.
This first part discusses some characteristics of the students we will see in our classrooms. One of the concepts that some professors do not take into consideration in an university setting that handles a variety of different students is the difference in the ages among the cohort. The age factor brings a whole different aspect for each of the students on how they mingle with each other, and fears are different too. This could contribute to frustrations while they are in the program. One of the most important things we can do for the students is to assist them with developing their support system not only here on campus but potentially outside support as well.
Understanding individual intrinsic motivations is KEY to being able to speak their language. For example, "those of you with growing children, won't have them at home forever. Your goals need to surpass being a parent to home aged children"
IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTANDING OUR STUDENTS BACKGROUND IN ORDER TO KNOW WHERE THE NEED IS TO IMPROVE IN OUR OWN TEACHING ABILITY.
In this lesson I learned effective strategies to understanding how to work with students from different backgrounds.
This module provided great insight into recognizing different student learning styles, motivations, and backgrounds. My goal is to apply what i learned to help my approach and accommodate different needs, ensuring clear communication, and creating a supportive learning environment that helps every student stay engaged and succeed. I try to show my joy to teach by listening and acting on what i learned.
I have learned that the students are very diverse, and all have seperate needs. It is best to keep an open mind, because you never know what a person is going through and it could be affecting their school performance.
One of my biggest takeaways from the Understanding Student Characteristics module was the emphasis on how each individual student brings something unique and valuable to the learning environment. We all have our own assumptions and experiences that shape who we are and how we see the world. It's a great thing to share and learn from the perspectives of others who have traveled a different path.
The most important thing I learned about in this module is that many adult learners could be starting over in a new career and may have mixed feelings about this. During instruction, I will try to connect their prior experience to their prospective career in order to promote confidence.
I feel as though something I do well is to see the lab from the students' eyes. I in the past few years was in trade school as well, so I know how it feels to be in their shoes. I learned that it is important to encourage and motivate your student, but also to recognize they have expectations that they expect to be met. It is our responsibility to make sure those expectations are met and exceeded. My goal is for my students to go home feeling like they learned at least one thing every class.
