How can we address students' various levels of understanding?
Not all students will be on the same level on their knowledge or familiarity with these types of tools. How can we best accommodate these differences?
Morissa,
This is tough whether you are teaching f2f or online. Have you used pretests to determine the a students' points. Then you can use resources to help bring students to the level they need to be using tutorials, videos, other resources. You can differentiate the learning by student needs.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
This is a typical scenario when we teach at a community college or in a vocational school setting as our learners vary by age,generational and cultural backgrounds. We see a wide variance of academic familiarity and "levels of understanding". I usually start by assessing each student individually via scores from recent assignments and then communicate one on one with that student to offer assistance. I think offering them extra support so they can start with small step-succeed-reinforce their effort -then moving them forward.
Ava,
You make a great point. It can be a challenge when you have so many different starting points. I would use a diagnostic assessment to determine beginning points for students and when you need to encourage them to work on areas they weaknesses. The cool thing is in online learning, you can provide that individualized learning by creating a library of technology apps.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Hi Morissa,
Some institutions have test that they will administer to students to check their knowledge of the topic that they may need to know before entering a program. I think in higher education we need to teach at all different levels to make sure that we are not boring the advanced learner but that we are not leaving behind the slower learner. When we administer test in each class we are evaluating their levels of understanding. At 1 institution I work for they do a pre and post test in every class to make sure that the student is learning the objectives needed for that class.
PAtricia
Patricia,
It is a challenge whether you are online or f2f. Pre test and post test is what I have used. I also don't do re mediate but I provide resources that they need to re-mediate themselves.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Everyone learns on adifferent level and learn from different ways. I feel you would have to have an idea how each of your students learn. If you have had them before then you should already know their learning style.
Kimberly,
You may, you could have them take a learning styles inventory. There are several available online for free. I have had students do that as well as personality inventory to see if they match their careers. I do think we cripple students when we don't make them stretch to learn in a variety of ways.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
