Teaching Methods
There are a few teaching methods that I apply in my teaching and learning.
Blended learning is the main teaching method that I apply in my teaching. It is an educational approach that combines the traditional teaching techniques and online delivery. Among the basic models of blended learning, I started with face-to-face driver model of blended learning. From this model, students are predominantly following traditional educational approach in my class, while they proceed to online activities based on their own pace. The online learning activities are more to exercises that they need to complete through some online apps or videos.
In the aspect of traditional teaching method, I apply Direct Instruction, a teaching method that is also known as “chalk and talk” by instructor. Lecturing is the primary direction, and the instructor plays the primary role in guiding the students. Instructor explains in a timely manner with what the students need to know. According to Norman Webb’s Depth of Knowledge, there are 4 levels in the depth of knowledge. To me, direct instruction is a quality method to build a strong first depth of knowledge that equips them with the ability to explore the second and higher depth of knowledge in the subject matter.
In the aspect of online teaching method, I apply both Synchronous and Asynchronous Instructions.
Synchronous Instruction replicates the online real-time learning and discussion for the traditional teaching method. I apply online video conferencing platform such as Microsoft Teams and Webex to have the class with my students. The advantage of the synchronous class is the lecturing is being recorded and students may revise on the discussed topics anytime based on the recorded videos.
Asynchronous Instruction is another method that I apply in my teaching. It allows students to view lectures and access learning materials from the online course platform. Lectures are pre-recorded in the form of videos, and students may carry out the learning activities based on the instruction given. Forums and discussion are on board to keep the two-way interaction for the learning.
As the online teaching percentage in the blended learning teaching method is getting higher, it produces another form of teaching method, which is known as Flipped Classroom. Students read the given lectures, watch the video tutorials, carry out the hands-on activities on their own pace. I as instructor play the role of facilitator to guide the students in their learning.
Teaching Techniques
Gamification
Gamification engages students better in learning and help students to have fun and study at the same time. This is a very effective approach where students tend to learn more to perform better in the game. One of the efficient apps that I apply in teaching is Quizizz. I create quizzes and let my students to have the live competition where their live scores are projected on the board. It does provide extra motivation to encourage students to learn more on the topics.
Using picture, audio and video materials
Inserting of picture, audio and video materials into the learning process helps to improve the understanding of topics for visual and auditory learners. In developing of teaching slides, I tend to insert some pictures that help to develop imagination of students to have a better understanding on the topic. For the lectures, I insert some audio and video materials to show demonstration to keep students interested and involved.
Use social media
Students nowadays use social networks actively. I form either a WhatsApp group or Telegram group for my students. I always encourage them to pose their questions and do the discussion in the group. For each of the problems, I will either facilitate or feedback to them as soon as I am available. The lecture videos that I produced can be found in Youtube. And I also encourage my students to browse for other related videos to learn more from different aspects.
Formative Assessment
To monitor students’ progress in their study, formative assessment is one of the best ways for students to test their knowledge. Students can track their weak spots and concentrate more on it. It can be a simple quiz after the class or some multiple choices questions that test about the knowledge. Other than that, formative assessment also provides me a chance to improve my teaching methods.
Teaching Strategies
Understand the benefit of learning
All students are interested to know how the learning of the topic will benefit them. If the answer is clear, this may motivate them to start the learning with joy. Before I start any lesson, I will brief them with the benefit that they are going to gain from learning the topic, such as “this is the basic of a particular topic in a particular subject in near time”. Hence, they know it is going to benefit them if they mastered the topic well and that is the power to start the engine.
Giving big picture
Whenever I start a new topic, I will always remind them with what they have learnt so far and how this new knowledge relates to the previous knowledge or how this new knowledge starts a new chapter in solving the similar problems. Other than that, I will relate the real-world problems or applications to the topic. By giving them a big picture of what they are going to learn, it helps students to have a clearer picture on the topic as well as interest to start the journey of learning.
Identify intended learning outcome
Learning outcome is shown in the slides of each of the lessons. Learning outcomes of a lesson is important for students to know the intended output from the learning. This makes it clear to students with what they are expected to achieve at the end of the lesson and allow me to quantify the impact of instruction on students’ learning.
Provide feedback during active learning
In each of my lectures, I will conduct hands-on activities for my students right after I explain the concept of a certain knowledge. Hands-on activity is normally an exercise that solve the similar problems and students may get to test their understanding based on the active learning activities. As an instructor, I will always provide feedback during active learning as it is important for students to master the topic through the instant feedback in the class.
Collecting feedback for improvement
After the lesson, I will collect feedback from students to measure their understanding level on the lectures and to collect their suggestions for my improvement. This is a way to check the effectiveness of my instruction on teaching for the lesson. I will make the improvement based on the collected feedback and impose it in the next lecture.
Differentiated Instruction
Differentiated instruction means instructors adjust the curriculum for a lesson and change teaching styles to fit students based on their learning styles. Different batches of students either from the same or different programs, they are different in terms of learning styles. The difference is obvious between full time and part time students. Hence, I will apply different teaching methods to different groups of students to engage students that learn in various ways.
Innovations in Teaching
Gamification
Active learning is important for students to understand the lectures. I prefer to use Quizizz to let my students to have some fun while learning the knowledge. This is an educational apps where it allows instructor to create notes or quizzes and carry out a live quiz with live score on board. Students are exciting to answer the questions and keep retrying the quiz to improve their live scores. It is an interesting way to engages students with learning.
Using educational apps
I am instructor of mathematics. Mathematics is a subject that requires students to solve a problem with a series of solution workings step by step. I use an apps called Edpuzzle to conduct active learning activities for students to join it based on their own pace. I have been using this app for quite some time, and students love the apps as they may get the feedback on the spot and being guided with the correct working solution at the same time.
Develop slides and online courses
I constantly develop Open Courseware (OCW) slides not only for my students, but for students from all over the world. I am also developing online courses, namely Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) that provides two-way interaction learning courses under UTeM. This beneficial to all learners that are keen to learn more about mathematics subjects. The links of OCW and MOOC can be reached from HERE.