Andrea,
Yes, passion, enthusiasm, excitement -- these can convey latent traits of hope for students who are looking to improve their lives through better work and career advancement. Usually, it takes little more effort to provide an upbeat, positive outlook, and as you've alluded to, students will be responsive.
Barry Westling
Andrea,
Yep, students expect that their instructor will be an experienced, educated, competent and knowledgeable facilitator, capable of effectively transferring the needed information for success in the class. Until we display something different, they will hold this perception. Respect and trust will remain until we break that expectation students have for us, and unfortunately, once lost, it's difficult to regain the full measure that existed previously.
Barry Westling
Andrea,
These are all great reasons for appropriate preparation. My experience has been that the backside many students is very chaotic, often with convoluted living arrangements, transportation availability, spousal and childcare issues, etc. I think the order, structure, and methodical nature that good preparation provides brings a sense of respite from the (sometimes) fragmented disorder that some students experience daily, and are working to change.
Barry Westling
Hi Barry,
You've made a lot of great comments in this discussion board but the one that you just mentioned was particularly meaningful. I think that "passion" is a key ingredient to success. I think it inspires us as teachers to come up with creative ways to present things that we feel strongly about. I think it motivates us and in turn motivates our students when they see how deeply we care about something. If I can connect with a student and find something that they are passionate about that can be utilized within the scope of the class, then I can almost guarantee that that student will be successful.
Hi Barry,
You comment about a first impression is very true. You form an opinion about someone within the first 15 seconds or so of meeting them. When you walk into a classroom for the first time at the beginning of a new term, you have a critical opportunity to establish yourself and your relationship to the students. If you can establish a rapport that first day, everything goes smoother. Students are more open to your feedback, they are more willing to participate and they are more likely to feel that you care about them and their success. You have to walk into the classroom with energy and be prepared to give that energy to the students. If you walk in to teach an evening class and you are exhausted from a day at the office and have no energy to give your students, they won't feel compelled to give anything back!
There are several reasons why it is important for an instructor to be organized and prepared for each class:
1. It shows you are professional and sets an example for the students to follow. If they view that you take the class seriously, they will be more likely to take the class seriously.
2. Typically there is a lot of information to cover in what is often a very short timeframe. Being organized helps maximize the effectiveness of your time with the students.
3. Planning and organization allows you to present the material in a logical and easy to understand manner rather than in an unprepared and random sequence.
4. Being organized gives the instructor a comfort level in knowing what they are going to present and knowing that they have supporting materials for the students in the form of handouts or worksheets that will help the student understand and internalize the information.
eirzaad,
I believe students want to feel their instructor is in charge, is knowledgeable, and able to provide the necessary information to guide them in their career journey. All of these traits could be true, but diminished in the students mind if poor or absent preparation for each class setting is missing.
Barry Westling
It is important for an instructor to be organized and prepared as means of demonstrating respectfulness for your students. By doing this, the students would be convinced that you want them to succeed in the course.
Romana,
The thing about respect is that once it's lost (or diminished), it's very hard to ever reach that same higher level as before. There's no guarantee that respect will be present, but without preparation, it's pretty well a fact that loss of respect is likely to occur.
Barry Westling
Romana,
Order and structure provides comfort, ease, and conveys a better environment for learning. This can't happen without the requisite planning that will achieve the desired outcomes.
Barry Westling
Eric,
Yeah, it's been said "failure to prepare is preparing to fail". Perhaps not totally true, but students expect the most from us, and that just can't happen without attention and effort.
Barry Westling
Unprepared and disorganized instructor cannot be effective at teaching. I find that organization is essential for effective communication with the students and for flawless delivery of content. Instructor who comes to class unprepared looses the attention and respect of students.
Organization and preparadness is essential to the overall success of the course. It helps the instructor stay on track and gives the students a sence of direction. I teach an excellerated radiology class. We cove in 5 weeks (two 5 hour lecture/lab session) what traditional programs cover in 12 or 16 weeks. This course is very structured and organized. I utilize group rotations and in-class activities. Everyone has to stay on schedule in order for the students to get ehat they need out of the course.
It is important for an instructor to be organized and prepared for each class as this shows that considerable time and effect went into the learning materials. It injects the perception to the student that you the professor is a professional at your craft and makes them take you seriously. Also, it makes the learning materials easier to comprehend when they are organized in a logical order.
Arlene,
Great. And I think when students feel we care about their success (in part through our preparation and effort), they'll be more willing to accept more assignments and graded activities with the knowledge (perception) we have their interests at heart.
Barry Westling
Going into the classroom unorganized, reflects the type of individual you are to your students. They need to feel as if you care and want to teach them. That you have taken the time to prepare for your class means you are very interested in helping the students learn and achieve their goals.
Jamie,
So true. We have to be on top of our game every day. Yes, it takes effort, but students want and need an upbeat, enthusiastic instructor who conveys competence and confidence, and demonstrates that passion for their topic every day.
Barry Westling
Tone, expectations, and instructor confidence are established within the first few minutes of a instructors pre-lecture to a new class. Often we believe that because we are qualified and hired that the proving stage is over. It begins with every new class.
Lea-Anne,
Fortunately, mistakes can be helpful in the sense that we can learn from them. I think in part, that's what an "experienced" instructor brings to the table: a history of mistakes behind them. Failure to learn will only result in the same outcome. But, I've found students are usually willing to forgive mistakes made by their instructor, as long as the instructor is sincere and doesn't make excuses for errors.
Barry Westling
Funny you should ask me that question as I have recently had to retake a class due to my disorganization. In which I have always prided myself on my organizational skills, but for some reason I failed to be for this one very important class.
It is very important to be organized going into your class setting as it allows you to have a plan in which to follow. If the students even though they are adults realize you are disorganized then there is the possibility of them becoming uncomfortable with you as a teacher and causing issues during lecture. Thank you
