Course Outline
My classroom is mainly hands-on skill development, including but not limited to how and why we communicate with the raw public. With this in mind my goal is too give them insite to what could happen but also why these things could happen as well as the skills to do their jobs well apon course completion.
My course outline gives each student knowledge of what we will be dicsussed and how much time we will have to learn hands on. This outline enables me to provide each learner with opportunity to gasp and master skills needed in the workplace. Yet it can provide the learner with the comfort of insite to what is next.
With my part of the program being mainly hands on I can have trouble with the less confident student and bringing them out of thier shells. I typically use possitive renforcement but can, at times need more.
I would like and need suggestions on other ways to encourage this hands on learning, any ideas?
Your right about the outlines giving a good starting point and I too have had problems with students sitting in the back of the room and trying not to be noticed, so I have used group settings to help with struggling students.I set this up with a prepared questionaire for the start of the course to find out who has what experience in the related subject matter and arrange the groups,so the students can help each other.This has been very beneficial not only for the learning experience for the students, but has helped me keep up on the changes going on that may not be in print yet. It also gives me a good jump start and relationship with the students.
I agree. Involving the students with the course is one of the best instructional methods I use. The "hands on" lectures enable the students to gain a visual and sensory identification to the material being presented.
I do agree but how do you handle the hands on approach when you are dealing with large numbers of students, say a phlebotomy course with 30- 40 students?
It would be a matter of what is available to you. We deal with automotive training with enough training aids to create a 4-5 pupils per group.With a good prep on how you wish the groups to adddress questions, problem solving, may determine how each group is organized. I have used group leaders per group to address any questions to me, but before they come to me,there are steps they needed to take before they come to me.First: Did they do their research, Second: Did they ask each other and try some of the suggestions from their group and so on.I usually have a set of questions to verify where they may be in case I have not gotten around to view their steps.
I have found that students who tend to stay out of the lime light usually turn out to be the most interesting if you can point out other uses for the material you present
I outline my class on the first day. How I will grade. When test is given. All test rules. What will be expected from student. All time lines for the next 3 weeks from web courses, in house labs and Ford lab. I do not want student to have any surprise.
I agree hands on is the best way to go
