IF YOU WANT TO:
Demonstrating a concept or idea rather than simply describing or discussing it.
"Whenever possible, try to avoid talking about something in its absence," one teacher says. "For example, don't tell students how to present a logical argument; present a logical argument and help them to analyze it. Don't describe how to solve a problem; demonstrate how to solve it on the blackboard and label and describe the steps and your reasons for them as you go."
Demonstrations are superior to discussions because they make use of additional senses. Drawing examples from everyday experiences, even if they cannot be demonstrated in class, will help students to visualize or re-experience them and reinforce their learning.
Use visual imagery whenever possible. Even if a live demonstration or the use of visual aids is not practical, the use of metaphors and analogies that give students a mental image to draw upon can help reinforce their understanding and recall. For example, a physics professor helps students "get ready" for a discussion of velocity by asking them, "Have you ever seen a quarterback throw a football into the wind? Have you ever thrown a ball into the wind yourself? What happens?"
Teachers can often make use of slides, maps, tape recordings, live or filmed dramatizations, charts, diagrams, demonstrations, and actual cultural artifacts to illustrate the subject matter.
Limitations on Use of Suggestion
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