I believe that hands on training is the most effective. I think that instructors often lecture too much (no offense). I believe students should be briefly lectured and then in the same day, go into the lab for demonstration and hands-on experience on the subject matter. You can have book knowledge but until you can apply it, it is of no use. Practice, practice.
Dawn,
Lectures have the lowest rate of retention of information.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I agree. I stated in another post that I believe that hands on experience is the most valuable. You can read a book cover to cover but until you can apply the knowledge appropriately and easily it is of no help to the student.
In my ultrasound lab we lecture, then try what we learned in the classroom. As the skills are being used in lab I will ask them something along the lines of "what direction would the AI jet be moving". I want them to point with their finger so they need to think about the lecture,and the lab. I also have them mess up the image and refind it a few times.
Mike
Mike,
"Messing up the image" sounds like it adds an element of fun to the learning as well.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I teach ultrasound in the classroom and in the lab. Students have to develop an understanding of sectional anatomy of the human body. The classroom teaching is then demonstrated in the lab in real time. Students can then scan each other and see the internal anatomy in real-time.
This promotes active learning.
Amjad,
There is probably an element of fun to scanning each other as well.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
ultrasound is lecture and lab combined. I reinforce what we learned in the classroom with the next lab day we have.
I want them to be able to take an image or concept we went over in lecture and be able to show me in lab, this for sure reinforces the lecture we had the day before. It's a winning combination that's a must for the students success.
Mark,
How is the lab setup? Is there a guideline provided? Step by step manuals?
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I've started doing things a little backwards when teaching how to test automotive sensors using an oscilloscope. I've already taught how to use the scope now it's time to learn about the sensors. While in the lab, I prep each group with basic scope setup for the sensor we will test and give a brief explanation on how to test the sensor. I tell them to use the scope database to research the sensor then they have to display the pattern before they make their measurements. When all groups are finished, we gather around the white board and I explain the sensor type and operation. I ask about what information they found for each of the different vehicles. It seems to work well.
James,
That self-discovery is such a great learning experience. I am sure the students are infinitely more attentive with this reverse approach.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
when i teach labs i often have my students perform the taks with me while im lecturing and then i have them pair or group up and discuss what they did then have them perform the task again based on what they heard, saw and discussed
Teresa,
Pairs do help each other in the learning process and reinforcement.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
