Student input
Care must be taken when using student input. Some students are very uninformed on the topic but try to persuade you to their point of view. If they add information to a topic the instructor must check the facts very carefully or other students will be gravely misinformed.
David,
The passion simply needs to be "guided" by the instructor, not silenced...
Dr. Ruth Reynard
These newer techniques will require more skillful instructors. Also, the administrators who implement these techniques must inculcate the need for interaction with careful monitoring. An instructor must be ever mindful of all actions taking place on open forums in order to ensure correct information is being communicated. Personal experience has shown that once incorrect technical information has been abosrbed, great effort takes place to reteach the correct information. Those of us who are passionate about instructing in technical schools go to great lengths to make sure our information is correct. Therefore, the instructor must closely monitor and guide open forums.
David,
Yes, instructors must learn how to initiate and support various communication and discussion options as well as designing more collaborative projects with direct application - all new skills for some instructors...
Dr. Ruth Reynard
This can create the opportunity for discussion. Other students may already know the info is incorrect. The teacher can also use questioning as a way for that student and other students to think critically. We have to teach students to question the answer, not just answer the question.
Ann Marie,
Very well put! Yes, asking good questions is a great learning tool and one that supports ongoing learning...
Dr. Ruth Reynard
It is true that some students are misinformed and their resulting input may be incorrect; but it provides an opportunity to discuss the information with the goal in mind to help them come to a correct conclusion regarding the the topic. In some situations this enhances the learning process.
