5 Ways to Improve Student Comprehension to Help Them Get Better Results

No matter what type of course you teach, you would always aim to maximize student comprehension. After all, your students need to understand what you are teaching to get the most value out of the course. But how can you improve student comprehension? 

#1. Give Action Work, Not Traditional Homework 

One of the first things to do is to look at the type of homework or projects you assign your students. Don’t just have them fill out a traditional packet of copy work. This does not provide real value and isn’t very engaging. 

Instead, you want to give students action work that is actionable in their everyday lives. For example, in a yoga course, the best kind of homework would be to practice a pose, not read the theory about it. In addition, make sure to give your students the information they need to complete the action work. So, going back to the example on yoga, provide specific instructions on how to do the pose safely and with proper form. 

#2. Use Microlearning 

Microlearning is crucial for engagement and student comprehension. Instead of giving your students a long lesson, microlearning breaks it into smaller chunks. For example, instead of one hour-long video, you could present your course in 12 videos, each running for just five minutes. 

#3. Create a Workshop Class, Not a Lecture-based Class 

One great way to use microlearning for student comprehension is to run your course as a workshop instead of a lecture. With this format, you lecture your students for about five to 10 minutes at a time. Then, you take frequent breaks from lecturing to do some action work. 

Depending on the topic of the course, the action work can vary. You can let your learners discuss things they’ve learned or do practical exercises on the topics discussed. 

#4. Be Yourself

You may not realize it, but your attitude toward your learners also affects student comprehension. For the best results, be real and show them your laid-back side. Being yourself is crucial because it helps your learners resonate or connect with you. Remember that your learners need to do more than just resonate with the content; they will also resonate with you as their instructor. Your learners will find it easier to connect with you if you show them your authentic self. 

#5. Compare With a Competition and Numeric Metrics  

Finally, using comparisons or adding an angle of competition is a great way to boost learner comprehension among students. A classic way to do this is to let them compete with one another while offering a reward. Doing so will motivate students to do their best and apply the skills you teach them. 

Take this to the next level using numerical measures to determine winners and their rewards. Objective data provides a good way to track the competition and provide a basis for comparison. 

Conclusion

You can design your online course in a way that maximizes student comprehension so your learners get the most out of your course. Start by focusing on action work instead of traditional homework. Use microlearning along with workshop activities. Be authentic to your students and offer a point of comparison or competition to keep learners motivated.