Using Handouts and Reference Material
“Helping Students Remember Concepts and Ideas”
Most of my students groan when I announce that it’s time to get out the textbooks or tell them to get out a writing utensil but I ignore them. Providing or having students create referenceable material is important to learning.
I’ve taken and have taught several different classes and the ones that were the most successful had some sort of referenceable material for students to use when their brain couldn’t recall the information on their own after the teaching was over. You shouldn’t lecture, demonstrate, or teach and expect students to absorb all of the information that is shared with them by purely listening to you. Their brains aren’t capable of it.
“But there’s hands-on time for them to get it.”
Yes, hands-on is excellent but how many hours does it really take for someone to truly get it, especially when they’re learning several different skills? Referenceable material.
When I went to the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, we used Peter Korn’s book, ‘Woodworking Basics’ as a reference guide and jotted down notes while the instructors went through different concepts. Peter Korn demonstrated how to cut the different types of dovetails and then we were able to use his book to remember the individual steps.
In my course, I use:
NCCER General Carpentry and Introduction to Basic Construction: CORE textbooks and complimentary fillable note sheets.
Note sheets for math concepts that I teach.
“Draw and Label” worksheets for tools that I teach.
And other handouts to compliment topics, concepts, and projects that I teach.
I require students to have a 1”, three ring binder which becomes their personal reference guide.
Need to study for a quiz/test? It’s in there.
Need to remember the parts to the compound miter saw? It’s in there.
Need to remember the specific safeties for operating the bandsaw? It’s in there.
Need to remember how to calculate the amount of 2x4s in a wall? It’s in there.
And so forth.
These handouts should coincide with the curriculum that you’re teaching and either help teach a principle or provide additional information. Even if your curriculum is based purely on joinery and projects, think about handing out plans and a referenceable resource for your students.
You don’t have to make them up yourself if you can find a program(s) that are like yours. And they don’t have to be overly complex. Hell, I’ll even share mine with you if you want.
If you don’t have enough handouts for a binder, have them use a simple folder to keep their papers in.
Bottom line: I’m all for memorizing things but I also know that it takes time and repetition for it to be cemented in the brain and the handouts will aid in the learning.
When you’re giving a class, what are you using?