How can I recognize different learning abilities and work with them individually?
- Recognize different learning abilities early on and make it clear to your students if you think they are not equipped with the requisite knowledge or skills to succeed in your class. Ask your students to tell you about their experience that might prepare them for your class and to tell you about any learning disabilities that they believe will affect their performance. Of course, this information should remain confidential. If some students seem to be less prepared, and others more advanced, provide supplementary (optional) material for each, so that all the students are challenged, but not overwhelmed. When creating assignments, be sure that they vary in the types of learning styles to which they would appeal. If one assignment is abstract, consider designing a more concrete assignment next time. Do not try to teach to the worst or the most advanced student. Teach to the B+ students. You can address the concerns of a few struggling students, or the questions of the most advanced students during review sessions or you office hours. Make your expectations clear. A good way to do this is to distribute examples of good - not extraordinary - work, so that students can see how they might improve their own work. If students struggle, despite your attempts to help them individually, refer them to tutoring services, such as those offered by Academic Learning Services. Finally, encourage students to learn from each other. Help students form study groups of five or six students and encourage them to help one another with homework or studying.
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Last Modified:
06/12/09
