Student comprehension
Over the last few years I have noticed an increase in the amount of students unable to read and write. I understand some of the career change students, but students fresh out of High School unable to spell or formulate a sentence!
When the students turn in their lab sheets I truely have a hard time understanding what they have attempted to write. Have others noticed this or is it a region thing?
I find it to be a problem. I also find it frustrating to find that many students who have been given an accommodation are playing the system and indeed understand more than they are letting on. It is my schools policy that if a learning disability was not documented in high school no accommodation can be made. This leaves me with many students who’s problems have been covered up in the past now struggle to make it and I’m told there is nothing that can be done to help them.
Ken
Hi Ken,
This group of students can be very frustrating for an instructor. What you can do is to offer graphic organizers, structured outlines and guided notes to your students. These devices can be used by all of the students but their are really valuable to those students with reading/comprehension issues. They also reduce the time that students spend asking the instructor what is meant by different points or if they need to remember the points since they are guided through what is considered as being important.
If you would like more information about the devices I will be glad to share some of them with you. Just let me know.
Gary
As a manager I don't experience the challenges as much, but in reading their evaluation comments of the course it was challenging to fully understand what they meant.The last time we ran the evaluation we allowed more time for them have an enviroment to be more concious of their thoughts and the difference was amazing.The structor of what they meant was clearer and to the point. This may be the same when they are writing down the results of their labs or in class assignments. If we understand sooner what the learner needs to get the information down and more accurately, it might make the experience of gaining a new skill or competency more rewarding for the student.In turn might show better structured answers.
My biggest challenge as an instructor is how to convey the information in my 61 year old mind to the mind of the 18 year old......and have it make sense.
When I first started instructing I had the same issue. After the first few lessons I realized that when I catch the deer in the headlights look, I would have to reexplain the point to be made in a different way. Alot of times analagies work because they can parallel life experiences. If you going to take a short walk, it starts with the first step, then the next, and so on. After a couple of short walks you have covered a mile. After you've covered the mile and look back, you understand how you got there. Students haven't arrived there yet so they don't understand. The trick here is to expain the point to be made in such a manner that even the most inexperienced person can visualize or comprehend the concept to be learned. This may include breaking it down into very basic building blocks. It's just lucky for us that most people want to build. If it gets to the point that the student just doesn't get it, I have asked the class if they have a better way to explain it, or an analogy that works in this situation. Usually someone comes up with something that works and you just remember it for the next time. After working as an instuctor for some time now I look back and realize they have taught me as much as I have taught them, just in different things.
Hi Thomas,
Thank you for the explanation of your approach to your classes. You are using an often overlooked resource in your teaching and this is the student. Each student brings to the class a unique background that can be drawn on to help with the instruction of the class. By being willing to use your students as resources you are helping everyone learn in a much more efficient manner.
Gary
I have experianced this as well,and find that the student can be a excellent resource for there classmates,but can also cause confusion if there explanation is incorrect.I try to pay attention,review information,and wonder from group to group to try and pick up on any missconceptions that may arise.
Hi Allen,
You make a very good point about making sure the information that is being exchanged is correct. Monitoring the class/group discussions is a good way of doing that just as you mentioned. Your floating around helps the students to know that you are there to help them as well as to encourage their discussions.
Gary
William,
I have noticed this as well. When this happens to me I'm not sure how to procede. A High School diploma or equivilant is needed to attend, but often I ask myself the question "How do you graduate without being able construct a simple sentence. What do you do??
I have the same problem with younger students. While older students accept responsibility and actually study, many of the younger ones seem content to do just that--"play the system" and look for ways to escape having to study or prepare for class. While I understand that when they eventually complete the course and go to work they may or may not be expected to perform at a reasonable level, I also know a certain percent will not make it that far because they view the class as too much work for them. These are the folks who will drop out, or just move from one course of study to another and never complete any single area of study. Perhaps, for some of these, attending classes is their chosen profession, and they have no intent of ever graduating. How do you separate the truly needy from the "game players" and help those who need help?
Hi Steve,
There is not a set way of knowing this. It takes time to figure out which is which when it comes to those that see the training as a part of their future while others are just space heaters in terms of filling a seat. I treat them all the same and let them sort out the reasons why they are enrolled in the program and course. What I have found is that many of them find they like the area and move from being game players to career planners.
Gary
