Matthew Gomez

Discussion Comment

I find a great way to make sure the students store the necessary information in the correct area of the brain is by various methods. I tend to put very important information on the board, and then describe it to the students. I also tend to remind the students that if I repeat a topic/fact/detail, it is likely a very important thing to remember as well. I will go back to this important information again and again to the point were the students know automatically what I am talking about.

Matthew Gomez

Discussion Comment

Color usage

I find it interesting how different colors will affect different people in different ways. Of course, we all have our favorite color, but that does not always work in a teaching environment. Normally when I use markers to demonstrate a point, I usually use dark colors (i.e. black or blue) since the board I use is white and I've noticed that lighter colors, though they may help stimulate some students, do not work on a white surface and it may increase agitation and confusion for the students. I however will split between black and blue during different times to either… >>>

Matthew Gomez

Discussion Comment

Always learning

As module 1 described, there will always be students in the classroom who will know more about the topic than us instructors. What I try to do (I will admit I use to get peeved when the one person continued to try to answer everything.), is I try to include some of their information for future references and future classes. I also tend to move around the room a-lot, and I will sometimes have different areas of the classroom have the ability to answer/ask questions so it will bring more people into the discussion and class.

Matthew Gomez

Discussion Comment

Mixing Language with Teaching

As I teach in a school which has a very diverse population (South Florida), I have to deal with students of various language/understanding skills. As it mentions through this section, it helps to learn some words of the students' language. Since I am a multilingual speaker, I tend to bring out words the students will understand from their own language so they will understand the day's topic. It also helps that the classes I tend to teach tend to focus on topics which are close to most international/other language students.

Matthew Gomez

Discussion Comment

Classroom Movement

I find that if you stay in one place the energy of the class and of the students starts lacking. However, once I start moving, with the students following me they are almost always paying attention to see what I will do next. I also tend to stress important topics that they should remember using hand gestures and movements. When I'm excited about a topic, I show it and the students seem to take it in like osmosis.

Matthew Gomez

Discussion Comment

Thinking of new test ideas

After completing #4 of ED 103, I have actually decided to go back and do an overview of the quizes I give in my class. Using the information given in the topic, I will likely change and re-word some of the questions I give. As a general rule, I like to use a variety of objective test examples such as multiple choice, true/false, and short answer, so the student is not bombarded with all the same as some students do better in one type than another while others do better in a different type. The mix-up gives every student the… >>>

Matthew Gomez

Discussion Comment

Questions

Depending on the topic of the day, I find that my students sometimes have a number of questions on some days and not as much on other days. The important thing to remember is to direct the topic of the day towards their educational goals (whatever they may be) and it will help the learning and questioning process throughout the class.

Matthew Gomez

Discussion Comment

Learning Styles

I've noticed that a healthy mix of all styles helps students learn overall. Also, if I am lecturing, I tend to use Powerpoint Presentations with pictures, as well as my own experiences and stories to bring the students into the discussion and classroom topics. It does not work all the time, but I find a healthy good percentage of the class finds this way very helpful and helps them learn as well.

Matthew Gomez

Discussion Comment

First impressions

What I tend to do is, depending on the size of the class, I go around the room and have them say who they are, where they're from, what they are doing here (at the school), and what do they hope to accomplish. Sometimes it goes quick, sometimes some students have much to say which, if I feel it is, sometimes ties to some of the course objectives.