How many times have you been to a work or school presentation and the speaker faced the board and read the slides to you? I can't help thinking, "They should have just sent me the presentation. I could have been doing something else right now. This is a huge waste of my time." By using words that compliment what is seen on the slides, viewers grasp the message at a deeper level. Two sense are involved. This is the Redundancy Principle in simple terms, introducing the same information in several different ways. I always try to elaborate on the words and images on a slide. I also encourage viewers to take notes in their own words. That gives learners three different modalitys or pathways in which to receive information. They see the slides, they hear my narration and comments and they take notes in their own words. When I give a presentation I always give out the note pages and encourage viewers to jot down notes. I try to have just enough words to spark their questions and comments. They have to pay attention and listen because the words on the slide taken out of context won't teach them anything.
I have been thinking about various learning modalities ever since I attended a NASA presentation on gender, handedness, math, and learning.
I found this weeks reading unnerving. The explanation of learning styles or modalities made sense to me. All is right with the world. Now I'm finding that the problem complex. How can we as teachers account for all the variables for "Why Johnny can't Read"? Giving students the option to choose the way they demonstrate proficiency will build their confidence and their excitement about learning.
I have been thinking about various learning modalities ever since I attended a NASA presentation on gender, handedness, math, and learning.
I found this weeks reading unnerving. The explanation of learning styles or modalities made sense to me. All is right with the world. Now I'm finding that the problem complex. How can we as teachers account for all the variables for "Why Johnny can't Read"? Giving students the option to choose the way they demonstrate proficiency will build their confidence and their excitement about learning.