"Book smart" students
Some of my "book smart" or written learning style students have difficulty applying what they have learned in the classroom to the clinic setting. The clinic is more "hands on" or Kinesthetic learning. Do you have any advice to help the written learners to be more successful in the clinic setting?
Hi Lori, Thanks for your post to the forum. Do you process manuals for all the hands on activities? Giving students a hand out that visually depicts the activity with step-by-step directions will be beneficial. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I had a similar question, but the response summed it up for me.
It seems to be a challenge for many students to take the book knowledge and apply it to a real situation bridging the theory with practical. I have used a step by step approach as mentioned above but I have also began to work on scenario based questions in class and lab to stimlate the thought process.
Hi Jeanie, Thanks for your post to the forum. Scenario based questions help students learn to apply what they are learning through critical thinking - ideal!! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
For skills presentations I like to give the student a written copy of the steps needed in the procedure, then I have them explain the steps as they are doing the hands on skill. Finally I have them 'chart' or write a brief detailed description of what they have done.
Hi Sharon, Thanks for your post to the forum. You shared a great example of "active learning"! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I agree in that some of the book smart students fail to make the connection between the written words, and creating products in reality.
I teach pastry arts, and I have many students who know the test material and score very well on written exams. But then when the food comes out and the ovens are on, all their books smarts seem to disappear as they need to connect the information yhey know, with creating a physical product. And more of then than not, those book smart students seem to expect "A" grades, because that's what they have always earned. However high grades may not be the case, in kitchen environments; that seems confusing and disappointing to them,
Hi Jean - Thanks for your post to the forum. That's a great observation! I remember working for a college that had an Applied Engineering program. Employers told us they preferred our grads to those who were strong on theory but had to be taught to apply what they had learned. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I have a student now that has passed the academic/text portion of my course, but failed the clinical competency. I assigned a detailed bulleted list of the steps of each skilled task and instructed her to study from the list. She was still unable to perform above 80%, actually received a lower score the second time. Keep in mind this student has scored the highest on my written examinations. Any suggestions?
Hi Mitessa, Thanks for your post to the forum. Since the clinical potencies are kinesthetic, I would suggest that she practice those "hands-on" skills repeatedly rather than studying the procedures from the list. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
