Lesson Planning involves several components that, when used together, create successful learning experiences for adult students. This post will offer web-based resources on the characteristics of adult learners, creating a positive classroom climate, motivational techniques, assessments and the use of media and/or learning aids. For each resource, I will discuss why I chose it and how I feel it will improve my instruction in the classroom.
1. Examining and Considering Characteristics of the Adult Learner
I chose the video resource below because it is a poignant reminder of the complexities and intricacies of adult learners. Watching this video throughout my journey will help improve my instruction by allowing me to reflect on the humanity of my students. I am slowly realizing not only the impact that I have on the lives of my students, but also their impact on me. It has become vitally important to me that I recognize the diversity of backgrounds and experiences of my students so that I do not act like the only “expert” in the room.
1. Examining and Considering Characteristics of the Adult Learner
I chose the video resource below because it is a poignant reminder of the complexities and intricacies of adult learners. Watching this video throughout my journey will help improve my instruction by allowing me to reflect on the humanity of my students. I am slowly realizing not only the impact that I have on the lives of my students, but also their impact on me. It has become vitally important to me that I recognize the diversity of backgrounds and experiences of my students so that I do not act like the only “expert” in the room.
2. Creating a Positive Classroom Climate or Learning Environment
The following link to classroom-management-success.org is a great resource that not only discusses the elements of a positive classroom environment, but also offers insight into methods to achieve successful results. I know that I will refer to this website often in developing my approach to fostering a safe and comfortable learning environment. I chose this website because I agree with its philosophy that a student achieves greater results when a teacher expects more from him/her. I believe that I already offer my students a lot of the support they need to feel successful. Often I recognize what a student is capable of very quickly, while he/she is caught by surprise at his/her achievements. I want to develop my skills in ensuring that all of my students feel successful and valued in the classroom.
http://www.classroom-management-success.org/classroom-climate.html
The following link to classroom-management-success.org is a great resource that not only discusses the elements of a positive classroom environment, but also offers insight into methods to achieve successful results. I know that I will refer to this website often in developing my approach to fostering a safe and comfortable learning environment. I chose this website because I agree with its philosophy that a student achieves greater results when a teacher expects more from him/her. I believe that I already offer my students a lot of the support they need to feel successful. Often I recognize what a student is capable of very quickly, while he/she is caught by surprise at his/her achievements. I want to develop my skills in ensuring that all of my students feel successful and valued in the classroom.
http://www.classroom-management-success.org/classroom-climate.html
3. Considering Motivation and Motivational Techniques
I am a teacher - I impart instructions and information to my students in the hopes that they will absorb what they need to know to complete workplace tasks. I would like to become an educator - a person in their lives who motivates them to want to learn more, explore the unknown and gain knowledge from new experiences. An excellent resource on adult motivation is www.cremole.eu. This website chronicles a project designed to identify best practices in motivating adult learners worldwide. The diversity of the study appeals to me, as it accounts for adult learners in a variety of cultures. I feel that I can use the information shared by multiple countries to understand what motivates different people and how to achieve a high level of motivation within each student.
I am a teacher - I impart instructions and information to my students in the hopes that they will absorb what they need to know to complete workplace tasks. I would like to become an educator - a person in their lives who motivates them to want to learn more, explore the unknown and gain knowledge from new experiences. An excellent resource on adult motivation is www.cremole.eu. This website chronicles a project designed to identify best practices in motivating adult learners worldwide. The diversity of the study appeals to me, as it accounts for adult learners in a variety of cultures. I feel that I can use the information shared by multiple countries to understand what motivates different people and how to achieve a high level of motivation within each student.
4. Assessment (Formal and Informal) and the Role of Feedback
“Assessment need not take time away from learning; assessments can be learning experiences in themselves.”
This quote, taken from http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/assessment/strategies.html appealed to me, as I believe that having students memorize information and regurgitate it for an exam is not an indication of their knowledge on a subject. Assessments should be an opportunity for students to realize they have the knowledge to complete a task; building confidence and promoting interest in further exploration. I find that traditional testing leaves students feeling inadequate and incapable. The website above offers multiple assessment methods, as well as links to many other websites with further information that I can use while developing alternative options in measuring the level of comprehension in my students. Also, as I develop curriculum for different programs, I would like to incorporate assessment tools and methods of feedback that are significant to the school while being comfortable, yet valuable to the student.
“Assessment need not take time away from learning; assessments can be learning experiences in themselves.”
This quote, taken from http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/assessment/strategies.html appealed to me, as I believe that having students memorize information and regurgitate it for an exam is not an indication of their knowledge on a subject. Assessments should be an opportunity for students to realize they have the knowledge to complete a task; building confidence and promoting interest in further exploration. I find that traditional testing leaves students feeling inadequate and incapable. The website above offers multiple assessment methods, as well as links to many other websites with further information that I can use while developing alternative options in measuring the level of comprehension in my students. Also, as I develop curriculum for different programs, I would like to incorporate assessment tools and methods of feedback that are significant to the school while being comfortable, yet valuable to the student.
5. Media and Learning Aids
As E. Mazur implies in his interview with Evolllution.com, an instructor who is unwilling to embrace media and alternative forms of transferring information to students in the classroom risks becoming obsolete in his/her field. Http://learningthroughdigitalmedia.net/ is a website offering a compilation of essays addressing the use of various media in education. The range of topics is extensive and the contributors are a cross-section of students and instructors, cultures and races. This resource will be very useful in gaining insight into the ideas and thoughts of many people who have either tried or experienced the use of media in the classroom both successfully and unsuccessfully. Rather than working solely on trial and error, I will use this website as a resource while attempting to implement various media into my own classroom as I dedicate myself to moving away from my current PowerPoint and lecture teaching method.
As E. Mazur implies in his interview with Evolllution.com, an instructor who is unwilling to embrace media and alternative forms of transferring information to students in the classroom risks becoming obsolete in his/her field. Http://learningthroughdigitalmedia.net/ is a website offering a compilation of essays addressing the use of various media in education. The range of topics is extensive and the contributors are a cross-section of students and instructors, cultures and races. This resource will be very useful in gaining insight into the ideas and thoughts of many people who have either tried or experienced the use of media in the classroom both successfully and unsuccessfully. Rather than working solely on trial and error, I will use this website as a resource while attempting to implement various media into my own classroom as I dedicate myself to moving away from my current PowerPoint and lecture teaching method.
References:
CreMoLe. (2010). The Create, Motivate, Learn Project. Retrieved August 21, 2013 from http://www.cremole.eu
Alexander, Bill. (2013). Creating a Positive Classroom Climate Will Help Your Students Become Successful Learners. Retrieved August 22, 2013 from http://www.classroom-management-success.org/classroom-climate.html
Mazur, E. (2013, March 13). The Flipped Classroom will redefine the role of educators (Audio interview transcription). Retrieved from http://www.evolllution.com/distance_online_learning/audio-flipped-classroom-redefine-role-educators-10-years/.
Pipe, Kelly Anne. (2008, April 9). Adult Learning Movie. Retrieved August 21, 2013 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZBsyIPLI1A.
Scholz, R. Trebor. (2013). Learning Through Digital Media Experiments in Technology and Pedagogy. Retrieved August 22, 2013 from http://learningthroughdigitalmedia.net/
Science Education Resource Centre. (2009). How to Use Assessment Strategies. Retrieved August 22, 2013 from http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/assessment/strategies.html
CreMoLe. (2010). The Create, Motivate, Learn Project. Retrieved August 21, 2013 from http://www.cremole.eu
Alexander, Bill. (2013). Creating a Positive Classroom Climate Will Help Your Students Become Successful Learners. Retrieved August 22, 2013 from http://www.classroom-management-success.org/classroom-climate.html
Mazur, E. (2013, March 13). The Flipped Classroom will redefine the role of educators (Audio interview transcription). Retrieved from http://www.evolllution.com/distance_online_learning/audio-flipped-classroom-redefine-role-educators-10-years/.
Pipe, Kelly Anne. (2008, April 9). Adult Learning Movie. Retrieved August 21, 2013 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZBsyIPLI1A.
Scholz, R. Trebor. (2013). Learning Through Digital Media Experiments in Technology and Pedagogy. Retrieved August 22, 2013 from http://learningthroughdigitalmedia.net/
Science Education Resource Centre. (2009). How to Use Assessment Strategies. Retrieved August 22, 2013 from http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/assessment/strategies.html