Teaching Students At Different Levels
In the career college I teach at, I find that we have students in our classrooms that are on different levels, across the board. What are good suggestions to bring everyone to a level where we can learn together?
I teach graphic design. I have the same problem and am going to try the following. During the first class on a 3 x 5 card asking the students to list their experience with computers and the software they are about to use. If I identify anyone with a lot of knowledge I am going to pair them with students that have no knowledge asking them to assist the student whenever they can.
We are project based for most of our assessment of skills. If I have a more advanced person I will meet with them to discuss how the assignment can be approached so that it is interesting and challenging to them.
Another thing I might explore is asking the advanced students to demonstrate some of the skills or tricks they know. Or assist with demonstration while I explain and walk around and help the others.
I also have this issue as a drafting instructor. Some students have some experience in the field or from high school and others have virtually no experience. The first day of class we do introductions discuss each student experience. Afterwards, I will approach one of the advanced student and ask if they would like to help some of the lesser experienced students. It is never a problem and when the advanced student gets way ahead it helps to keep them from getting bored.
I try to acknowledge and speak to both groups. Asking the seniors to share how they learned something. Telling the seniors they were successful while they did it. Getting them to help. Using them as examples to aspire to.
I also find that seniors inspire me to change the lessons somewhat. Keep it fresh and not say the exact same thing the exact same way every time. Then all of us are inspired.
I wish I had the answer for this, because I have the same situation. If I go for "the middle of the road", the ones who have the education or experience become bored, and the ones with the least experience/education still get lost sometimes.So what IS the solution?
Hi Monte!
As instructors, we have to be able to teach to every level in our classrooms and be sure that we recognize that each contribution is equally as important as another. It is definitely a tightrobe that instructors must carefully traverse.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I find this to be a challenge. At our college, our students range from beginners to advanced. Our range in age/maturity also varies as well. Some students have some previous education, work experience and life circumstances differ greatly.
I try to listen and try to make changes, in response to the dynamics of the class that day. I never seem to know just what the atmosphere will be--but I have learned and keep learning, as well, that I have to change my direction--depending on the dynamics of the class.
I do make it a priority to see where the students are at that time. I always explain that all of us have something to share. I also let them know that each of us come from a different walk or place in life but we have all experienced life. We discuss how each and everyone is important and can contribute in their own way. We review and then work with each other to reach a common goal. The common goal is each individual reaching their own goal. The goal is being successful in their chosen career.
Being flexible is difficult as each level that a student is at needs to be nurtured, as well as acknowledged. It can be done. We as instructors, as well as our students grow each and every day.
Put your students into working groups with faster students and slower students.
I have been teaching a basic computer applications course and have had a similar problem. About 10% of my students have never touched a computer, another 10-15% are experts at least in what is covered in the course, and then the remaining students are middle-of-the-road in their experience. I've struggled with helping the students that have never touched a computer, while still keeping the rest of the class engaged. I like the idea of having the advanced students help the less advanced students, but still find it difficult to implement during a 3-week class. I've been developing an assessment that students could take on the first day of the class (or even earlier...maybe during the admissions process) to gauge their level of experience with computers.
I've taught students from elemenary school through college......and every class has diversity in academic proficiency!!!! Two things come readily to mind to help in this situation.........Repeat,Repeat, Repeat....and grouping (peer tutoring is sometimes what that boils down to). These types of things don't hurt the proficient learners.......but DO help those in need.
In the smaller classes, I am able to make part of the overall grade based on individualized assignments that the better students can use for their portfolios and the ones that need more attention can use to assist their learning comprehension and pass the class without resorting to means that won't help them
In the larger classes, I try to teach to the "high middle" and hope that others will come for extra assistance which both of the schools I work with provide.
Hi Chris!
Great ideas - thanks for sharing!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Perhaps gaining an idea of the experience and knowledge levels of each student with a pre-test, then start with the fundamentals of the lesson/skill, and then break into groups with a balance of the stronger and weaker groups. This would allow the more proficient students not only to utilize thier knowlegde base, but provide a good opportunity for students to learn some of those "soft" career skills discussed in a previous module.
We have that situation at the school I teach at as well. I find it helpful to have assign seating and place more experiences students with newer students and they can help guide the new students as I lecture and go over course objectives and assignments.
This technique has helped several of my students that were struggling with new material. They always had someone to turn to when they were struggling with a topic.
