Teaching and CEU's

[Guest guest]

 

I don't often contribute to the list but I do read the digest. I

have a comment with regards to Powerpoint, ceu's, and classrooms.

Over the years in most classes I've been in the instructor has usually

taught they way their teacher before them taught. Whether it was

neuroanatomy or Chinese classics each instructor simply mimicked what

they experienced. This begs the question what is the best way? It

seems to me that anyone who wants to teach should at least familiarize

themselves with how we learn. You know how you learn but how do other

people learn and how does an instructor best utilize the tools at

their disposal for the benefit of the student? It's my contention

that if an instructor is not interested in how we learn and adapting

their methods to best communicate their material then they are really

not that interested in teaching as a profession. As an illustration

from the conversation it appears that Bob is thinking about these

issues when he mentions the different types of learners, and you show

your propensity for solitary learning by your emphasis on reading. So

do Powerpoint, video, and other tools belong in a ceu presentation or

classroom? It depends on one's understanding and facility with the

tools at hand and an understanding of the mechanisms of learning. For

those of us who have been or are involved with education at the

instructor level here are some questions. Who taught you how to

teach? When you were turned loose on students were you given anymore

tools other than how to do the administrative part? Did your

particular institution pair you with a master teacher for you to learn

how it's done? Were you informed of where you could find advanced

material in learning theory? Did your institution offer you

continuing education in education? My point in all these questions is

to illustrate that students have a variety of learning styles and if

they are all equally motivated they will be as successful as their

teachers understanding of their needs. So is Powerpoint worth while,

well what can it do that your not doing now and how will it help your

paying client get the best return for their money?

Regards,

Michael