Nursing and education have evolved with technology. Both of these disciplines have been greatly affected by online instruction. My goal for taking this online course is to learn various new teaching strategies to engage my students. I have learned many new teaching strategies since the beginning of this course. These strategies have helped me to deliver a better presentation of which is better organized and formatted.
The section on learning styles proved to be very useful when developing a curriculum. When implementing various learning activities I started to consider students learning styles and how to incorporate something for each style. By doing the group project it helped me to be able to identify some sources of information that would help identify what activities were available for certain learning styles. I have incorporated web links into my blog that enable the student to view material from other resources to help re-enforce material discussed in lecture. This method is useful for the auditory learner. The virtual clinical exercise allows the learner to visualize clinical scenarios to help the student develop critical thinking skills.
The learning exercise on teaching styles inventory was helpful because it helped me to identify what teaching style I used in my instruction as well to identify my strengths as well as weaknesses. By utilizing this tool I was able to develop a better teaching format to include areas in my curriculum to develop further. I implemented better instructions to follow for clinical exercises as well as for group projects. Making sure the student had available resources to match the written exercises.
As a graduate student my instructor used the teaching format from the constructivism to engage my class through various learning activities. I became very comfortable with this type of instruction but did not know the name for this type of teaching format. The learning environment and teaching tools the instructor uses can hinder or help a student to process information. This type of learning environment allows the student to think out side the box so to speak. It leads one away from a learning environment of control to freedom to become a more active listener and active vocal participator.
The learning environment has changed from the traditional lecture setting to one of online and internet exchange. I am using the teaching style of constructivism with students in an undergraduate program; some of the students have been in their field for more than 15 years. And in the teaching styles inventory it showed I scored high as expert and personal model. Which when teaching generic students in fundamental learning classes that is the teaching style I always use. But with these students I am serving as the facilitator and learning that listening takes a special skill. To be able to learn the skill of an active listener has been a learning experience for me. This role has allowed me to let go of the lecturer role and encourage the students to exchange ideas and build their discussion using web site journals to support their ideas. I was a little uncomfortable with this role at first but now since this course I have become more secure in my role as facilitator.
I found some web sites focusing on the role of the instructor as the facilitator which helped me with this new role adjustment. I’m finding its okay to have silence while students are reflecting on experiences related to the exercise. In my role as facilitator I now have become comfortable with allowing students to interact with each other and being able to intercede to keep the group focused on the discussion topic.
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/oent/Staff/thomas_papers/JEE_final_12_9_07_printing.pdf
The section on learning styles proved to be very useful when developing a curriculum. When implementing various learning activities I started to consider students learning styles and how to incorporate something for each style. By doing the group project it helped me to be able to identify some sources of information that would help identify what activities were available for certain learning styles. I have incorporated web links into my blog that enable the student to view material from other resources to help re-enforce material discussed in lecture. This method is useful for the auditory learner. The virtual clinical exercise allows the learner to visualize clinical scenarios to help the student develop critical thinking skills.
The learning exercise on teaching styles inventory was helpful because it helped me to identify what teaching style I used in my instruction as well to identify my strengths as well as weaknesses. By utilizing this tool I was able to develop a better teaching format to include areas in my curriculum to develop further. I implemented better instructions to follow for clinical exercises as well as for group projects. Making sure the student had available resources to match the written exercises.
As a graduate student my instructor used the teaching format from the constructivism to engage my class through various learning activities. I became very comfortable with this type of instruction but did not know the name for this type of teaching format. The learning environment and teaching tools the instructor uses can hinder or help a student to process information. This type of learning environment allows the student to think out side the box so to speak. It leads one away from a learning environment of control to freedom to become a more active listener and active vocal participator.
The learning environment has changed from the traditional lecture setting to one of online and internet exchange. I am using the teaching style of constructivism with students in an undergraduate program; some of the students have been in their field for more than 15 years. And in the teaching styles inventory it showed I scored high as expert and personal model. Which when teaching generic students in fundamental learning classes that is the teaching style I always use. But with these students I am serving as the facilitator and learning that listening takes a special skill. To be able to learn the skill of an active listener has been a learning experience for me. This role has allowed me to let go of the lecturer role and encourage the students to exchange ideas and build their discussion using web site journals to support their ideas. I was a little uncomfortable with this role at first but now since this course I have become more secure in my role as facilitator.
I found some web sites focusing on the role of the instructor as the facilitator which helped me with this new role adjustment. I’m finding its okay to have silence while students are reflecting on experiences related to the exercise. In my role as facilitator I now have become comfortable with allowing students to interact with each other and being able to intercede to keep the group focused on the discussion topic.
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/oent/Staff/thomas_papers/JEE_final_12_9_07_printing.pdf
class has shown me how to become more comfortable with the computer as well as exposed me to so many new technological resources. Instructors should all be encouraged to build their computer skills and knowledge of new teaching strategies and teaching tools. Younger students are so comfortable with the computer and allowing them to able to use that knowledge in class is great.
Podcast and the whiteboard are teaching tools that can be very effective if used the correct way. I attended a seminar on how to incorporate using the whiteboard in the classroom. I think that this tool offers a lot of flexibility to go to the internet and view short video scripts that you can include in your teaching format. I will have to work with this a little bit more in the class to become comfortable with its usage. Having the technology is great but you must know when to use it and definitely how to use it. But I have learned how to implement color, font size and graphics to attract the learner to information presented. Also using humor in informational handouts helps the student retain learning material, especially when used with simple clichés or pictures.
The technological teaching strategies will indeed improve my teaching format as well as my presentation. I feel that this course has undoubtedly been a windfall of information that I will continue to use throughout my teaching career and continue to build upon. This information will enable me to share with my colleagues some of the technological strategies that I have learned as well.
Podcast and the whiteboard are teaching tools that can be very effective if used the correct way. I attended a seminar on how to incorporate using the whiteboard in the classroom. I think that this tool offers a lot of flexibility to go to the internet and view short video scripts that you can include in your teaching format. I will have to work with this a little bit more in the class to become comfortable with its usage. Having the technology is great but you must know when to use it and definitely how to use it. But I have learned how to implement color, font size and graphics to attract the learner to information presented. Also using humor in informational handouts helps the student retain learning material, especially when used with simple clichés or pictures.
The technological teaching strategies will indeed improve my teaching format as well as my presentation. I feel that this course has undoubtedly been a windfall of information that I will continue to use throughout my teaching career and continue to build upon. This information will enable me to share with my colleagues some of the technological strategies that I have learned as well.
