Increasing Student's Knowledge on Issues Relating to HIV and AIDs - Essay Example

The basic thing when training people on HIV/AIDs is how to draw and maintain people’s attention on the issues being discussed. To ensure that the audience is attentive and in a position to grasp most of the ideas discussed, different teaching strategies will be applied throughout the learning period. These strategies include; lecture method, group discussions, case study method, distance learning as well as active learning. The demonstration will be included in the teaching methods since people learn more when they use more than one common sense (McKeachie, 1998). In this case, the student will utilize their senses in hearing, seeing, and feeling.

The lecture method has been selected on the principle of time-saving. The method is evaluated as very effective in training college students and will be applicable since the audiences are literate. This, however, will be more effective when applied with active learning since it is easy to identify any challenges in addressing the audience. In addition, the trainer is in a position to determine the understanding capacities of the learning. This method allows a large amount of information to be communicated to many people within a very short period of time. In the US, about 80% of college classrooms are taught using the lecture method as it has been found effective (Eble & McKeachie, 1986). However, this, method limits the feedback which is very important in evaluation. For this reason, it will be used in combination with other methods.  

            A case study of people living will be applied thus giving the audience a clear understanding. The audience will also have experience learning away from the class environment. Students learn more from real-life experiences. This method actively involves the students hence improving their learning process. Though there are cultural issues that may come up during the learning, this method still remains one of the most effective methods. Distance learning will be very effective in disseminating information to many people even those far apart though it fails in that there is no personal contact between the audience and the trainer. However, this will be enhanced by the provision of question and answer forum on the website. The interactive software, as well as emails, will be utilized as they have so far proved effective in other learning sessions (Sherr L et al, 2007).

The learners are expected to grasp at least 80% of all the materials learned in class and be in a position to apply what is learned in theory in a real-life situation. The learners are also expected to acquire skills on modes of HIV transmission, acquire HIV testing skills, strategies for safe sex, and to acquire counseling skills. After the training, they should be in a position to offer better services that will satisfy the clients and give them. Since learning does not only take place in classrooms only, the learners are expected to identify any mistakes they make or that are made by other people and be in a position to offer a viable solution to this. HIV/AIDs is a global issue and requires the attention of every individual. As a result, the students will be expected to share the learned information with others, especially those infected (Mather’s BM et al, 2008). This means they too are expected to be in a position to identify an audience and the modes of disseminating information.

Evaluation strategies

Experiments will be used to evaluate the level of understanding of the audience. This will be more effective in the use of the case study method where the students can be given a test where there are to practical carry a procedure. The students will be guided through the experiments and their knowledge evaluated per their ability to carry out the procedures.

Behavioral change

Research on behavioral change and change in perceptions will be conducted to evaluate the impact of the learning sessions on the way people reason and react in situations relating to HIV and AIDs. Evaluation using questionnaires will be used.

Written tests

The written tests are time-consuming but very effective. The students will then have to sit for tests twice before the final test. The first tests will be based on the topics that have been taught while the final test will cover all the topics that have ever been learned in all the sessions. This will evaluate the amount of information retained by the students after learning.

Group discussions

The students will form groups and do assignments together. These groups will be very effective in evaluating individual understanding of the issues relating to JHIV/AIDs, identifying any pre-misconceptions, and the level of understanding at the group level.

Before beginning the learning sessions, brainstorming will be important for the trainer to identify the beginning point when giving a linkup. This will also evaluate the information retained from previous sessions. Discussions will also be used to identify any needs in the learners that must be accomplished to enhance the learning process. The students will have a chance to ask any questions relating to HIV/AIDs.