Get Your Students Hired
I write a board for my students every class that states an objective, a lecture and a demo with points along the way. Next to each thing I post a time frame in which to work from. this helps keep things in line and on pace.
Clifton,
Your lesson plan configuration sounds like an effective method for addressing student learning pace. Once you have assessed your students, do you have to revise the lesson plans and re-distribute or are assignments "generically" categorized so that you can make "seamless" changes?
Tremayne Simpson
I find that I need to assess the student learning style and their commitment to the course couple with course objectives. The lesson plans are constructed with certain triggers for slower or faster content delivery built in tends to keep me on pace
Billy,
I agree that it is always a good idea to periodically assess your students. In addition to providing short quizzes, an instructor can do some "Socratic questioning" during the lecture or assign activities that will enable them to apply their subject knowledge.
Tremayne Simpson
Billy,
I have adopted the same philosophy. In an effort to maximize the student retention of information, it is best to "lecture" based on the average attention span of the class. On days when there is a lot of material to cover, I try to implement periodic activities, that will segment the lecture.
Tremayne Simpson
kathy,
I agree. It is more important to make sure that the consensus of students are able to comprehend the material, rather than trying to keep an accurate pace with the course lesson plans. In cases where plans have to be revised, it is a good idea to provided the students with a revised topical outline and discuss the changes.
Tremayne Simpson
I believe and have discovered that limiting the "lecture time" to short segments to be an excellent idea.
I find that it is important for me to use the short quiz to assess how well my students are grasping the materials that we are discussing. They may be listening, but I need to determine if they are just looking at me or really hearing and understanding what I have said.
students all learn at different paces so I think that it is good to change the lessons plans and topics all the time to keep students interested
I plan my class and divide it by our scheduled breaks. If there is extra time at the end I move on if we can make considerable progress into the next portion of the lesson but if not then I discuss the subject with the student and see if he has any questions.
I sometimes practice and time the lecture before hand, but mainly have the most important objectives covered with additional lectures when finishing early.
I have different review type information at hand, along with small in class projects and even some games that come in handy to review and regain interest.
Richele,
I agree. Sometimes a well-placed discussion can assist in keeping students attentive, during a lecture. I always try to keep a few "discussion questions" available, for instances when I preceive that the class is overwhelmed or adrift.
Tremayne Simpson
I always allow time for discussion, and breaks especially the night adult students, who may have worked all day, break or discussion time when I see some of the students beginning to "drift"
This is one of my difficulties. My students have such varied experience and the classes very in size that I am never sure how long the subject will take. I have worked into my terms places were I can condense in case a subject to longer than expected. I also have review games that I use when we finish early.
anthony,
I agree, consistency in class assignments can assist with the time management approach, for the course. Interestingly, student participation in one class can directly impact a revision in the lecture, for another section. Student discussion can really assist in adding content to the course, overall.
Tremayne Simpson
anthony,
I agree, consistency in class assignments can assist with the time management approach, for the course. Interestingly, student participation in one class can directly impact a revision in the lecture, for another section. Student discussion can really assist in adding content to the course, overall.
Tremayne Simpson
I believe continuing to teach the same class helps me manage my time. With repetition, I can see what works and what takes too much time. I then can change what is done on certain days and add or take off to other days. The students still get all the information, just on days that it flows better. I also take notes. Each class may add something that is relevant to another class. I use all types of leaning materials and have a lot of stories and questions that keep the students interested and promote a question and answer setting. Sometimes this may go longer the excepted depending on how heated the topic is.
MY class is just over 2 hours long and the content presentation can vary each day. I usually know how much time the lesson will take but I have class room projects I can assign if I run short. The projects will relate directly to that days lesson content.
If I've taught that particular course before I then have the experience and knowledge to correctly prepare time management. If necessary, I keep in "my back pocket' extra projects, videos, stories, etc. to help fill in time gaps. This way if I have 4 students or 14 students I can manage exactly how much time is needed for the class. If students are presenting work, I make sure to keep an eye on the clock to ensure each student fairly gets the opportunity to present.