Learning (and teaching)

Every person learns differently and there is no perfect method for teaching. Fortunately there are some techniques that help me learn and teach effectively. As a teacher I am always discovering new ideas and trying new techniques to help students reach their full potential. I've included lists of ideas and techniques anyone can use to improve their success as a learner or teacher (or both).

Information on this page:

Resources for Learning

Resources for Teaching

Learning Part One: Things to try

  1. Focus Yourself
    • Have a goal in mind before you start. Start by asking yourself, "What do I want or need from this?"
    • Avoid distractions and don't multitask. If your goal is to learn then don't waste your time trying to do something else. Multitasking will almost always slow you down.
  2. Take notes
    • Take notes during lectures and when you are reading. Taking notes gives you (and your brain) a chance to process information in a different way.
  3. Practice
    • Try using the new information right away. Try practice problems, write down your thoughts, re-read, do homework. Spending time working with information will help you remember it and use it when you need it.
  4. Ask questions
    • Whenever something is unclear to you try to get an answer or clarification as soon as possible. Don't wait to ask your questions. If you must wait write them down so you can easily go back to them.
    • If you have a question chances are other people in the class have the same question or will benefit from hearing the answer.
  5. Help other people learn
    • The best way to learn something is to help someone else learn it.
    • When you can do something and teach it to someone else you are on your way to mastering the topic.

Learning Part Two: Things to do

  1. Volunteer your time to help others
    • Giving your time to help others leads to memorable and valuable experiences that will in turn help you accomplish your own tasks with added perspective and thankfulness. Contact your local soup kitchen, library, church, or large charitable organization to find opportunities that fit your needs.
  2. Eat good food
    • Raw fruits and vegetables can give you a boost. Try an apple rather than a soda, or a granola bar rather than french fries. Your body and mind are connected so give then what they need.
  3. Sleep
    • Try to get 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Your brain needs time to dream and process all the new information you learned the day before.
    • The all night study session (or web design session) might seem like a good idea but your better off to get some quality sleep and getting an early start the next day.
  4. Study
    • You will always get more out of a class or workshop if you spend time away from school or work reviewing and researching on your own.
    • If you have a topic that is a challenge the best thing to do is practice, reread, get extra help, or have a discussion.
  5. Play a sport
      • Ride your bike, walk a lot, join a school or intramural team. There are many benefits to exercise that can improve your ability to learn and improve how you feel too. The point is to take time to be physically active.

Teaching Part One: Things to try

  1. Relax
    • Breath, smile, and take your time, especially when you feel there is a lot that needs to be done. Allow yourself and your students to feel calm and collected. You will be more effective and they will be more receptive and things will run more smoothly with less frustration.
  2. Focus
    • Know exactly what you want your students to learn. Have a purpose and a simple list of two or three things that support the purpose of your lesson. Avoid having too broad of an objective, be specific.
    • For example "Understand Images" is OK but "Understand the similarities and differences of JPEG and GIF images in web design" is better.
  3. Activity
    • Students have a limited capacity to listen. Allow them to experience learning by giving them an activity to do.
    • Taking notes, discussions, questions, games, quizzes, movement, anything that gets learners actively participating rather than just listening.
    • Variety of activity is important too so don't be afraid to mix it up.
    • Avoid lecturing for more than 10 minutes at a time. A two minute activity in the middle of a 20 minute presentation gives students (and you) a chance to refocus for the second half of a presentation.
  4. Use questions
    • Questions give students a chance to think.
    • Questions give teachers an opportunity to check for understanding before, during, and after teaching.
  5. Keep it short
    • Don't go on and on. If you have a lot of material to cover avoid the temptation to lecture at length. Instead break-up your lecture with brief activities.
    • When I have a lot of material to introduce (more than 10 minutes is a lot of material) I break up the material with activities.
  6. Check for understanding

Teaching Part Two: Activities that work for my students

  1. Focus Activities
    • Give your students something to do or think about before you start teaching. This can help get them ready to learn. Keep it simple and short.
  2. Research, Read, and Write
    • Students need to be able to find information, understand it and explain it. No matter what subject you are teaching, make time for students to research and report.
  3. Partners
    • Working in pairs is a great way to help students accomplish a goal. When my students work in pairs I also encourage them to read allowed to each other when working with complicated instructions like those found in photoshop tutorials.
  4. Repetition
    • Spend extra time reviewing material. For example I spend one class session reviewing for a test and then after the test another whole session reviewing the test. If the goal is for students to learn then give them as many chances as possible.
  5. Fun Breaks
    • I have soft beach toys we use to play different games in class. When I sense the energy of the class falling I stop and we play catch for two minutes, or we take a walk down the hallway and back, or a quick yoga inspired stretch. Anything to give students a chance to come back to material focused.
  6. Presentation
    • People hate public speaking. Most of us are forced to do it every so often in the "real world." Give your students a taste of presentation in your class. Everyone benefits from presenting to a group. Make sure the audience understands their roll is to help the presenter and that they too will be presenting.
  7. Long-Term Project
    • Real life is long-term. Give students the opportunity to plan and execute projects that span a whole semester or a whole school year. Some ideas are growing plants, tracking grades, volunteer service, stock market games, or anything else to expose them to the concept of long-term planning.
  8. Timed Activities
    • Use the clock. Students are already conditioned to be very aware of time. Use this to your advantage. When students are given an activity make sure to attach a time limit and stick to it. The time can be measured in seconds, minutes, or days! I find students like to work "against the clock."

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