Age Old Problem

[bphgravity]

This is probably one of the most common issues for instructors and instructional programs to deal with.

This is my 3rd year as an apprentice instructor, and I seem to have received an identical mix of students each year. I have averaged about 25 students each of the three years. Ages range from 18 year olds right out of high school to gentlemen in their 60's starting a new career or just wanting something to do two nights a week.

I will generally lose about 5 students throughout the year for a multitude of issues. People move, give up the trade, simply give up, etc. The remaining students are quite diverse. I will always have 3-5 that just can't get anything. Its not from a lack of trying in most cases, it just doesn't click. Another 3-5 are very advanced. They seem to be quite talented and natural learners. The remaining 10-15 are kind-of just there getting in their time and making average progress.

My concern is with the speed and focus of my subject matter. I find myself at times being very redundant and a little slow with my presentation because of my concern for the one group, yet I can sense the boredom of the advanced group. On other occasions, I find myself racing a bit and hitting on more advanced issues over the general topics. In these times, I can tell my advanced group are doing okay, yet I see some of the other guys overwhelmed.

I would like to find a happy medium, however I wonder what some other instructors here, and whomever else would like to reply, feel about this issue. I realize that only a small portion of the class will ever advance to the journeyman level, but doesn't everyone deserve a fair level of personal attention? At the same time, I don't want the advanced guys to get discouraged and bored with the program and lose interest.

I have talked to a few students in the past about doing some of their own self study to maybe challenge them a little more, and I will always provide assistance to those that are strugling.

How do you guys handle this?

 

[petersonra]

Re: Age Old Problem

This is a problem every teacher has faced. Soem schools have tried to group students by ability, but this is viewed us un-PC, so is not common anymore.

If not grouped by ability, your classes will always have this situation. I think you have to just learn to live with it.

 

[Ed MacLaren]

Re: Age Old Problem

What you have described is a serious problem. It is impossible for an instructor-centered program to find a pace that is right for every student in a group.

In my case, the problems were compounded when our Apprenticeship Division started sending in a mix of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year guys in the same group.

We had to develop a modular system whereby each learner was able to proceed through the program at his own pace. It was a lot of work to set up, but it solved the problem, and now I would never go back to the conventional system.

If anyone wants more details, let me know.

Ed

 

[jtester]

Re: Age Old Problem

Bryan
I haven't taught in a year long apprenticeship program for a couple of years, but when I did, my approach was to give major ideas to students a minimum of 3 times at different points in the semester or year.
The first time most of the students go "Wow." Some will pick it up but in general not many will remember the major concepts.
The second time, most will go "Oh yeah, I remember something about that," and the third time they encounter a significant concept, the majority will be able to do something with it. One challenge is to make these 3 experiences each different, but apply to the same subject, say derating of conductors in a conduit.
Last but not least, you won't bring all of them to the same level. If they all learn from you, then you succeeded.
You sound like a good teacher, you are proud of your good students, and motivated to help the slower ones. I wish more instructors had that concern.
Jim T

 

[69boss302]

Re: Age Old Problem

I was an instructor at a Nuclear Power Prototype. These guys were all just out of high school and well quite smart. However the all did still have their different learning abilities and speeds. Sounds like you've used one of the best things, give the advanced guys there own things and let them take off with it, usually they get a lot more out of it, and they are they type people that learn better on their own. There's also some of the those advanced ones that are willing to help you with the one's that you are dedicating a lot of time to give the extra help. See if any of them are willing to lend a hand in bringing a long some of the slower learner. Believe it or not the advanced guys have some real good ideas, and just like the instructor, can learn themselves buy helping those that need just that extra way of explaining things.

 

[lroselle]

Re: Age Old Problem

try using your advance student to teach at 15 minute periods some times the same material will come across to someone when said from others.use this when they the average student dont get it.

 

[jwelectric]

Re: Age Old Problem

This is a technique that I use a lot especially in lab. I break the class down into two or three man crews with the most advanced being the crew leader. I also do this a lot in the class as an example. A crew of three will be given a motor problem with four or five motors and they have to figure the circuits complete from main panel to motor. The first crew with the right answer is exempt from the weekly pop quiz with a perfect score. I never leave the same people together for more than one week. This seems to help them when they go out to find work in the world.

 

[gary b]

Re: Age Old Problem

The students in our program are required to pass math and English placement tests before they are allowed to sign up for apprenticeship. This helps them achieve a basic level of literacy before entering the program. I try to have study group projects and match the students according to learning ability. I give them in class assignments that must be completed in the groups. I also have all of my learning material on CD an encourage the students to take home lecture and PowerPoint?s that help them learn. Our text books have CD learning supplemental material that they can use for supplemental learning.

I believe that part of the training program is to allow the students to learn. Apprenticeship allows students to learn to be ?fast learners?. I don?t see an electrician being in our trade without a commitment to a lifetime of learning. Part of the program is to see if they have the intellectual skills to learn on their own, to take a book or technical manual and read it, comprehend it, and implement it in the process of informational dissimilation.