Diversifying Instructional Methods

• Organize class time in a predictable format.
  
  
  • Begin each class period with a description of what will be covered and end each class period with a summary of the important points.
  
  
• Use teaching techniques that appeal to both visual and auditory learners.
  
  
  • Use visual aids such as overheads, handouts, multimedia presentations and models to support spoken language.
    
    
  • Incorporate charts, graphs, and diagrams into multimedia presentations and visual aids.
    
    
  • Describe verbally what you present visually in overheads and other visual media.
  
  
• Incorporate hands-on activities for kinesthetic and active learners.
  
  
  • Provide demonstrations and involve students in these demonstrations whenever possible.
    
    
  • Have tangible models and objects available.
    
    
  • When discussing concepts and theories, provide analogies to tangible items.
    
    
  • Utilize interactive software applications. Work cooperatively with other faculty in your discipline to develop visual models, computer programs, and interactive activities.
  
  
• Emphasize active listening and participation.
  
  
  • Provide notes, an outline or guided notes for each lecture so that all students may attend and participate more actively. Guided notes are skeleton outlines that provide main ideas and key concepts with spaces left for students to fill in notes.
  
  
• Provide a balance of theory and application.
  
  
  • Provide examples of how theories apply to real situations within the students' realm of experience. Remember to consider the age and cultural background of the students when giving examples. The turntable of a record player, for example, would not be in the realm of experience of most young students.
    
    
  • If your course requires a lot of memorization and attention to detail, provide connections to the whole and theories that relate to the detailed information.
    
    
  • Provide connections to other courses within your discipline and to other disciplines.
  
  
• Allow time for formulating questions and responses.
  
  
  • Pause a few seconds after asking a question.