Keeping student's focused on the lecture.
I have found that student's love storie's about the subject matter,old racing storie's that relate to your lecture.
I have learned to put myself in situations that allow me to personally help students as soon as possible in my class/lab. When students realize that I am indeed going to personally help them I get much better class control out of respect and appreciation. Telling stories of a personal nature that relate to the subject as Jackie suggested helps to make that personal connection. I also like to start with a stories of mistakes I have made in my field to help them realize it is OK to make mistakes.
Hi Andre! Thanks for your comments; you have brought up a key point with adult learners - the more we personalize teaching with our own relevant stories and examples, the more personal the training becomes to our students.
Jay Hollowell
ED106 Facilitator
I heard a student say he learned more from instructors stories than the course. The real world situations help to give book learning a solid ground to stand on. Students need to know what they can expect in the real world. The examples we give may spark more conversation and increase the learning curve for other students.
No question Matthew, thanks, stories and examples that are interesting, real, relevant and personal serve to engage students in learning and enhance their comprehension.
Jay Hollowell
ED106 Facilitator
This is so true but if I might add a more "ear" catching way is if you talk about money. If you give examples of how you might incress you walet size in the field along with the topic you are teaching it seems they perk up and listen more.
found this works very, Iam a story telling type of instuctor our students seem to learn and remember better when they can visualize it in there mind.
That is what I do as well...give students stories of not onlt good things I have done, but the mistakes I have made on my journey to becoming who I am today. The importance of providing stories where mistakes were made, is that something has been learned from that mistake, and at the very least, the same mistake was avoided from that point on.
i do the same, but not to much, sometimes stories take up to much time, finding a balance is key
When I am giving lecture, I try to make it a point thoughout the day, to use my own personal experiences regarding the subject matter. I also request the background life experience that each individual student may have. I find that this way makes the learning of the topic more personal, and perhaps the student finds it easier to relate, or will remember perhaps My own experience and tag it to the topic, or there own.
Students also seem to like it when the stories have application to their "real" life outside the classroom
The importance of providing stories where mistakes were made, is that something has been learned from that mistake, and at the very least, the same mistake was avoided from that point on.
I agree that telling stories takes up a lot of time, so I try to make it "education" time as well as "engagement" time by "weaving" some "must-know" facts into the storyline.
I also think mistakes are important to relate as it makes the instructor come across as a real person from the real world rather than just having "book learning" to present.
I agree with this statement. In order to truly relate to students, they need to hear you be vulnerable. I find that if they hear your honesty, they tend to trust you are there for their benefit and have a different type of relation with you.
I love this way of catching the students attention. When I see I'm starting to lose their attention, besides all the other techniques, I'm going to add this. How the subject applies to their ability to increase their income I'm sure will refocus them.
Real world stories do enhance learning. As a veterinary technology instructor, I use real world situations daily in my lectures. Students become very excited and want to further discuss the topics. Students will then share their experiences and as a result they learn the material. It make the material relevant.
Every quarter we have all of the students evaluate the instructors. I continually recieve high marks about relating the subject matter to real life experiences. Stories of success and failures help the students relate to me. Realizing that I am not perfect, but have experience, provides a sense of appreciation.
Some students want to know how they will use subject content professionally; some will want to know how they will use it personally; and some want to know both. Stories of personal experiences or how others have used the material may have to cover both professional and personal situations.
During my lectures I always give example of things the students are going to see in their chosen porfession. This keeps them very engaged in the activities.
