understanding students
with so many differant ages and backgrounds an instructor must continue to use differant methods of delivery
Yes instructor must continue to use different methods of delivery for a topic. Also I try to see what prior knowledge my students come to class with.
i agree dave, i have no problem with most
students. but i do have one particuler student
right now that is hyper active and has no
patients what so ever! would apreciate some
input thanks
Hi James,
There are methods you can try with this student. You can break your students up into work groups and that places this student in a cooperative setting where peer acceptance is required. The other students may be able to bring back into the mainstream of class participation.
Another method would be to break down a lab exercise into smaller sections where the student can experience sequential success building up to the completion of a major project. These small segments give him success but also if he becomes impatient with his success he only has problems with that one small segment rather than failing the entire project.
Gary
Hello Mr. Anderson, just to let you know that I agree with your stamen.
Students have different levels of motivation, different attitudes about teaching and learning, and different responses to specific classroom environments and instructional practices. The more thoroughly instructors understand the differences, the better chance they have of meeting the diverse learning needs of all of their students. Three categories of diversity that have been shown to have important implications for teaching and learning are differences in students’ learning styles (characteristic ways of taking in and processing information), approaches to learning (surface, deep, and strategic), and intellectual development levels (attitudes about the nature of knowledge and how it should be acquired and evaluated).
Thank You
Samuel Mariani
Hello
I believe that the most important point to consider in "understanding students" is to learn to identify their enviroment and cultural habits. By knowing the backgrounds of the student, it will be much easier for the Instructor to understand her/his mood, attitude and dedication to the class. I think that before to try to find a solution to how a student acts, it is imperative to know the surroundings and habitat elements that are related to that student. Once you know the issue it will become much easier for you to build and gain trust with that student.
Hi Marcelo,
You are right on with your statements about getting to know your students. This information is critical as you plan the instructional supports your students will need for success. With your efforts will come respect and rapport with your students and this is what makes teaching worth while.
Gary
I find this to be completely true in my teaching experiences. In the classes I teach, I tend to enjoy and encourage the discussion as a result of so many different ages and backgrounds. This healthy mix allows the students to think in different terms. Younger students bring new ideas and thoughts while the older students bring their experience and expertise in the areas of their focus. While it is true older students do seem to focus more so than their younger counterparts, I've seen many times where younger and older students will come together and learn from each other. I think this will help both sides down the road when they actually enter (or reenter) the work field and find they are working with people from all different age and cultural backgrounds.
Hi Matthew,
Good job of mixing the different students you have in your class. As you say they will be working with different ages and experience levels so they need to learn how to do it while in school. Plus, you get the benefit of your students' backgrounds.
Gary
Hi Marcelo, although I agree with you that knowing the students background is helpful in understanding them(the students), it is usually not something that as an instructor we can ask about. I have found that if a student has a problem or is upset about something just letting them know that they can come and talk to you and that you will REALLY LISTEN to them is what seems to work best for me. I only have students in my class for a short period of time so I dont really get to know them well, but by really listening to the students concerns usually takes care of the issue.
