Understanding
An instructor must first understand his/her students before he/she can develop their training. This will allow the students to understand the instructor and the material more thorough.
This is a great point. The more the instructor understands the students, the better we can teach the material in the methods they understand.
I believe that this is true. Each have a different way of learning and you need to be able to recognize the different learning styles to be able to reach each and everyone.
This should be done during the first class. I ask students to answer a number of questions and return the paper to me regarding how many classes they are taking; work and home responsibilities etc. It does make a difference.
Hi Lori:
It's true when we know information about the backside of students lives, it helps personalize our relationship. Steven Covey (7-Habits guy) says, "seek first to understand, then be understood". Creating trust and a forum for open and honest discussion with students will only help the instructiional process.
Regards, Barry
I agree.Every student is different.Every students learning abilities are different.Knowing each ones differences and needs makes a world of difference.
I often ask other students to help get the message across if I notice a communication breakdown or I feel they are not grasping a concept.
Hi Jeff:
I call this "student-speak", somehow a teacher can leacture or explain and a student misses the point. But a student peer can lean over and speak something like "...what he's saying is...blah, blah, blah..." and the student goes, "Oh, I get it!!" Go figure? I may have spent the last 30 minutes explaining something several different ways. There must be some natural law about this phenomenon. Sheech!
Regards, Barry
This is the first I have heard of "student speaks" thanks for sharing. This will surely be something I use.
Lori,
Yeah, student speak is an interesting phenomenon. Of course, it only works effectively when the "clarifying student" has the correct information. I'm sure this can backfire too, when students will talk among themselves and say "he means...this", when I really meant...that".
Regards, Barry
