Preferred teaching/learning methods

I posted a message on the board a couple of weeks ago and received some great responses, so thank you to those who responded. Now I have another question, this time on a slightly different topic.

As you may remember I created an online web design school called simply enough "The Web Design School." I have had a good bit of success so far as I have had 20 students sign up over the past few weeks, and I am getting two articles written about me.

The reason for this post is because I am at a point that I am still trying to differentiate myself from the other web design schools. The way it stands now I am teaching several topics that my competition doesn't teach, but what I am looking at now is my method of teaching. It is pretty basic now, text and screen captures.

One of my competitors uses all video to teach his courses, WordNet University - http://www.wordnetuniversity.com - and this is a great idea, but I want to stand out from him.

So what I am looking at is either changing or modifying my methods of teaching. From what I have experienced the following are the most common methods:

1) Text - reading books, etc.

2) Videos - online, VCR, etc.

3) Classroom - teacher upfront, possibly using one or both of the above methods.

So, to get to my question, what is your preferred method of learning or teaching? If you have some ideas that could help me I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,
Chad Hardy
The Web Design School
http://www.thewebdesignschool.com


The Web Design School

> From what I have experienced the following are
> the most common methods:

> 1) Text - reading books, etc.

> 2) Videos - online, VCR, etc.

> 3) Classroom - teacher upfront, possibly
> using one or both of the above methods.

> So, to get to my question, what is your
> preferred method of learning or teaching?

Chad,

Maybe you should ask your students that you already have...but since you asked:

I prefer what I call "programmed learning".

Give me the book, the video, audio tapes--whatever you have and let me go as fast or slow as I want.

If I have a question, I'll ask. Test me periodically to see if I am getting it. If I am, great! If not, I'll go back and ask questions that maybe I should have asked before.

I am not a degreed individual...I did complete two years of college. (I guess I do have an associate degree of some kind...)

My recollection of school was that most of the time I was bored to death. The class was geared for the average.

I tested to be much above average (forgive me, I am not bragging) and therefore was not challenged by the average classroom curriculum.

After two years of college, I took a correspondence course in electronics technology. I was married, working fulltime, and this worked for me.

The lessons were in small booklets. (This was 1970 before the time everyone had VCRs.) Each booklet contained one lesson with a test at the end of the lesson. One booklet was one lesson for one week.

I wanted to complete the course as quickly as possible. I hated my job and I wanted out! (I worked on an assembly line for a major appliance manufacturer.)

So I took a lesson with me to work each day. I placed it on my work station and when the line was down or running slow, I would read a paragraph.

I completed several lessons a week this way...and accelerated my progress to the point where I was able to complete a two year course in less than a year. I got my certificate and a new job.

I'm sure today most correspondence courses take advantage of videos either on tape or CD. But the advantage is the same. Give me the material and let me go at my own pace. The classroom is good for interaction from time to time...but not for learning, IMHO.

One key to my situation was motivation. I hated my job. I wanted out of there in a tremendous way. I was willing to "do what it takes" to get out of there. I was focused. I was determined. Nothing was going to stop me.

Another thing, when I am interested in something, I want to learn all I can about it. I am an information-aholic. (The internet has been my Achilles heel...I spend entirely too much time on here reading and researching.) My wife says I may be obsessive-compulsive at times.

Oh, well...I didn't mean to ramble on about me.

If I was your student, I would want the material available to me...in a format I could use...at a pace that I choose. I would want your observation and supervision at appropriate intervals. More as a consultant, than a teacher.

I hope this helps.

Be blessed,

JDB




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