This document summarizes survey results about students' favorite learning experiences and effective teaching strategies. The survey found that students most enjoyed learning experiences that were relevant to real life, involved active participation, and used a variety of multimedia. Students felt most powerful, excited, and important when teachers used groups, experiments, field trips, and were enthusiastic, challenging, fun, and available. Effective teaching involves planning lessons flexibly based on student needs, with clear objectives and activities targeting different learning styles. Planning should link instruction to real-life and systematically develop higher-order thinking skills.

1. The most important
thing…?
Classroom Survival Skills 101
CVTC Presentation
Jan Seiter, Ed. D.

2. I had the best time when…
W
 here? W hat grade?
What did the teacher do?
W hat did you do?
 How did you feel?

3. Favorite Learning Experiences
 HS – 26%
 MS – 23%
 ES – 21%
 College – 30%
 Relevant, real-life – 30%
 Active, participation, involved – 57%
 Multimedia, variety of media – 27%

4. Learning Experiences
Teacher Behaviors:
Groups
Experiments
Field Trips
Excited, enthusiastic
Challenging
Pushing
Fun
Available

5. Learning Experiences
Verbs used:
Play
Use
Talk
Argue
Debate
Laugh
Question
Try

6. Learning Experiences
Student Feelings:
“powerful”
“excited”
“free”
“respected”
“appreciated”
“important”
“uncomfortable”

7. What activities
does this survey
suggest?
Learning has nothing to do
with what the teacher
covers. Learning has to do
with what the student
accomplishes.

8. There is a reason TV is not
“live”…
 Planning is not linear, but a process
 Teacher planning is often mental
 Planning is flexible
 Based on needs

9. What research says about
planning...
…effective teachers do it!

10. No widely accepted planning
model…
 Clear objectives with active verbs
 Time, content, activities are important
 Plan strategies & multiple activities
targeting learning styles
 Must focus on student needs…

11. Planning is a guide to action…
 Links instruction to real life
 Considers student attention spans,
learning styles and interest
 Systematically develops objectives,
questions and activities
 Reflects higher order thinking skills…
…of the instructor!

12. Plan a task, experience or activity
that gets your students involved.