I love telling real life stories. I have been teaching for 4 years and real stories are the best way to engage the students.
Just like the answer to the quiz, you can play to your strengths, and work on your weaknesses.
Students know it when I demo butchering fish, that I love to do it. I have developed technique over 20+ years of restaurant work. So they get into it. Once they respect you, you've got them. Then I can demo something I am not expert in, but can teach well, and they don't even notice.
So I can analyze my strengths and weaknesses to improve my teaching methods through utilizing my strengths and working to better my weaknesses.
It is important so that I may improve my teaching skills. I like to pick the brains of my peers for new ideas. I have never been intimidated by taking "assessments", as I feel everyone can make improvements.
I look forward to completing this course and learning new techniques.
I know that I have more enthusiasm for some courses than others. I need a reminder that I need to bring the same level of enthusiasm to every course I teach.
I am a new instructor at an institute that I also graduated from years ago. I can see daily the passion and struggles many of my students have for this particular field. It is important for me to remind myself that I once sat in those same seats and faced the same perils they are enduring so I can better relate to my students. Understanding who I am is imperative so I can maintain a good relation with my class and also lead by example to show them that I am a success story that they too can accomplish.
I just completed my first term as an Instructor for fundamental computer courses. Even though I have been in the field of computer technician and network administrator for over ten years, I had no idea what type of an Instructor I was or could be. This past semester made me realize that if I am to continue with this I have to do a great deal of practice on my own, which I have no problem doing because I see this as a priceless experience in my career!
All of us have a style that matches our personalities. I have heard other instructors lectures and have tried to use some of their ways, but in the end it has to match me and my delivery.
My stories relate to the mistakes that I have made in the field they have picked. Anytime I see
the students starting to lose interest in the
material I tell a story...usally an embarressment to me. They get a laugh, wake up,
and learn something NOT to do.
You must be able to identify your strengths and weaknesses. It's also important to ask for help if needed. When you do this, you can do your best to develop class content that you are comfortable teaching and that will fit the curriculum and benefit your students.
All instructors as well as students where I teach must complete a DISC assessment. This helps the instructor know what kind of students they have in class. The DISC was developed by The Pacific Institute and looks at a variety of factors to assess where an individual falls.
D= Dominant
I= Influential
S= Stablizer
C= Conscientious
So if an instructor has a classroom full of C individuals, then the instructor should focus on details and be very thorough when discussing a topic. On the flip side, a classroom full of D individuals just wants the basics and then can learn the rest on their own.
Hi Joseph:
To find out what kind of instructor you are, one might consider keeping a teaching journal. One thing a journal can help to reveal is what kind of person you are when you write down how you feel things went in class.
Another great thing about using a teaching journal is that it might help reveal items that need improvement in the lesson prior to the next go ‘round. Also, improvements can be made in both what has worked, and what hasn’t.
Regards, Barry
Hi Loyd:
One thing to keep in mind is the idea of BALANCE when discussing or thinking about personality in the classroom. If there is too much of any personality style, be it too humorous, or too strict, etc., this may serve only to distract the student from a full understanding of the course material.
Regards, Barry
I failed to look closely at my personality traits before going into post-secondary instruction at a culinary school. I figured that my knowledge of my field and my abiding sense of empathy would be sufficient. I realized several years down the road that I was definitely working in the "Peacemaker" role, always doing what I could to avoid conflict, and even going so far as to award inappropriately high grades in order to "keep the peace". Over the last few years I've made some important adjustments and am now considered to be the "tough but fair" instructor, a role that has earned me much respect on my campus. I wish now that I had made that adjustment sooner!
Barry, Its important to know that you are influencing the students. By giving them real world examples that you yourself have gone through in the experiences of your field. Most students cannot relate to conceptual things unless they have something to compare too. So I have always used my experiences so that the students can relate to it, then I have my students share some of thier experiences that have similar themes. I know that most students follow by example , so its important that as a instructor you share your experiences and some of lessons you've learned.
Hi Wade:
To find out what kind of instructor you are, one might consider keeping a teaching journal. One thing a journal can help to reveal is what kind of person you are when you write down how you feel things went in class.
Another great thing about using a teaching journal is that it might help reveal items that need improvement in the lesson prior to the next go ‘round. Also, improvements can be made in both what has worked, and what hasn’t.
Regards, Barry
Hi Amanda:
To find out what kind of instructor you are, one might consider keeping a teaching journal. One thing a journal can help to reveal is what kind of person you are when you write down how you feel things went in class.
Another great thing about using a teaching journal is that it might help reveal items that need improvement in the lesson prior to the next go ‘round. Also, improvements can be made in both what has worked, and what hasn’t.
Regards, Barry
Hi Tracey:
To find out what kind of instructor you are, one might consider keeping a teaching journal. One thing a journal can help to reveal is what kind of person you are when you write down how you feel things went in class.
Another great thing about using a teaching journal is that it might help reveal items that need improvement in the lesson prior to the next go ‘round. Also, improvements can be made in both what has worked, and what hasn’t.
Regards, Barry
Hi Dana:
To find out what kind of instructor you are, one might consider keeping a teaching journal. One thing a journal can help to reveal is what kind of person you are when you write down how you feel things went in class.
Another great thing about using a teaching journal is that it might help reveal items that need improvement in the lesson prior to the next go ‘round. Also, improvements can be made in both what has worked, and what hasn’t.
Regards, Barry
Hi Jennifer:
To find out what kind of instructor you are, one might consider keeping a teaching journal. One thing a journal can help to reveal is what kind of person you are when you write down how you feel things went in class.
Another great thing about using a teaching journal is that it might help reveal items that need improvement in the lesson prior to the next go ‘round. Also, improvements can be made in both what has worked, and what hasn’t.
Regards, Barry
