Joseph,
Right. We need to portray that we are genuine and sincere to be trusted and believable. Some artificial version of someone we are not will not achieve the hoped for outcome.
Barry Westling
As an instructional leader you are in front of the class and all your attribues, as well as faults are on display. If by nature you are not a comical or jovial type, then don't try to bring that trait into the classroom. The best advice is to be yourself.
Kayla,
Good instructors often "consider their audience" when planning course material, among other considerations. Understanding our role and personality as it relates to assuring students are given all the opportunities to learn will provide a good foundation for planning classes.
Barry Westling
I am new to career college instructing but I do find that constantly putting myself in the students shoes does help in teaching the material because you have to be your own critic.
John,
I believe good instructors are willing to seek continuous improvement -- there is really never an end point. This is reinforced to me when I perform classroom observations and see the myriad of diversity in instructional delivery and activities. We should never stop learning.
Barry Westling
Understanding who I am and what i can bring to the class can play well on my strengths and knowing where I need to inprove will help me to become a stronger instructor
Sonia,
I agree. The more we have an understanding of our strengths, attributes, and weaker areas, the better we can assist our students from the foundation of what we know works. Also, if continuous improvement as an educator is sought, we have to be honest about what needs exist so that constructive efforts can occur.
Barry Westling
I think it is crucial to understand yourself first before you can teach because it will make it easier for one to establish a teaching technique. How can we grow as teaching professionals when we don't learn from our personal areas of improvement? By knowing ourselves we can translate information to students much easier.
Virginia,
Great observation and summary. These lessons are useful only to the degree that a participant is willing to apply the ideas and sentiments expressed in the modules and participant posts.
Barry Westling
I enjoyed this section on finding yourself as an instructor. It gives great insights on the different styles of teaching and getting to know what style of instructor I am.
It also emphasized on the importance of 2 steps of teaching such as:
1. First off gain the respect of your students and that is by being prepared to teach which gives the students a secure feeling because they have an instructor ready and waiting to teach and help them grow in their new career choice.
2. The pedagogical step of how am I going
to get the hook, excitement, energy from my students regarding the information I will be teaching them and for them to retain it or leave that day with new knowledge.
I understand that everyday will present with new situations but that is what teaching is all about, CHANGE.
Virginia
ROBIN,
It's great when an instructor feels secure about where they shine, and what areas may need some work. Going into a classroom with confidence conveys that a competent instructor is present, and a reliable and effective lesson is in the offing.
Barry Westling
I know my strengths and weaknesses as an instructor. Knowing what those are keep me from looking less-than-professional to my students, because I can work on what I need to and give them my best. I am constantly working on myself; I have students fill out surveys at the end of the course so I can gauge my performance. Any weak areas are worked on for the next class.
Wynell,
I believe we are in control of our class, so if students act up, it's our job to rein them in. If we don't then we are as accountable of the unsatisfactory behavior as they are. Being sincere, reasonable and patient usually conveys we are serious about instruction while at the same time being approachable.
Barry Westling
I agree with the module that it is a good idea to look at ourselves in the mirror prior to class. Kind of like looking at ourselves in the mirror while we are on the phone (customer service). If we portray an angry persona, the class will react in a negative behavior. When we are overly cheerie, students may be react in a noisy, uncontrollable manner. Being professional, dressing the part, being neat and clean, prepared with our materials when entering the room early sets a good tone. Have the notes on the board prior to class, greet students by name as they enter with a pleasant attitude, and I believe students will be better prepared for a positive setting.
Wayne,
Yes, our competence is wasted without the confidence to accompany it, and the ability to convey that confidence to the class. Students need to be able to trust and respect our role as facilitators of their education.
Barry Westling
I believe that fundemental to seeing yourself as an instructor is to see yourself as someone who has a wealth of experience to offer. The confidence that comes with this is important in giving you the confidence to stand before a class and deliver relevant material.
Todd,
I think we all have traits that make us better instructors. I suggest that most instructors will have areas that can be improved upon, and really that will be an ongoing, work in progress for most. But the results from working to improve will yield dividends for the students.
Barry Westling
To understand yourself in the instructional leader position will help you in your deliverly of the material and in how to use both your strenghts and weakness to help the student's educational experience while in you class. Alot of times if you can use some of your own personal style it will make the experience for the student better and the information will be retained better.
Mindy,
I agree and believe that every instructors who realizes they can teach to their strong suits, and recognize there will always areas that can be improved on will be more successful, approachable, patient, and knowledgeable instructors who recieve the respect, trust and credibility from their students. We start out, based on what we know, but students relate to us based on how well we can help them in their paths to job readiness.
Barry Westling
It is very important to have a understanding of yourself as an instructor. All instructors need to know there strengths and weakness. This will help an instructor grow to become an IDE. Students look up to their teachers. Working on our weakness makes us stronger instructors. Students look up to teachers. We must set the examples and the students will follow. If we are late every day we are teaching our students it's ok to be late. This weakness may effect the students job performance later in life.
