Hi Earle:
I feel for me, I know myself to the degree I can exercise my abilities to maximise my instructional talents to my students. Self awareness really is a lifelong learning process, a journey. But being confident in what I know I can do for my students conveys competence, and from that trust and respect from my studenst.
Regards, Barry
I believe it is important because you need to know where you are and how you fit into this position. You can't have the same technique teaching different classes because the students' are going to be different. You have to sometimes stand back and take a look at them, most of the time they are looking at you trying to figure you out. Being excited, tolerant and just open to different teaching methods I believe has helped me
in the past.
Like anything in life, you need to be self-aware of yourself. You need to understand that you are not perfect and make mistakes. I know exactly the type of person I am and create a "persona" in the classroom that incorporates all of my best attributes.
Keeping myself in check is what I think; after every term I think about ways I've handle situations or taught materials. I always try to improve myself in teaching areas. I've learned tremendous amounts of patience over the years.
Hi Scott:
Confidence in the abilities we have as teachers, (subject matter experts), certainly experienced workers, is a cornerstone to conveying authenticity to what we have to say. It is this foundation we can build from and diminish weaker areas (that over time will improve).
Regards, Barry
I believe it is important to identify my personality style as well as my leadership style in terms if adult education in order to be able to then identily with the adult learner. These styles may impact the way adult learners grasp concepts.
You need to have self-awareness to be any type of leader. You are in a position to better understand your limitations and attributes. When you can help a student and when, if truely student-centered, to send them to someone else.
Hi Diana:
It takes a lot of honesty and self evaluation to really come to a point of understanding. But as we get closer to knowinging ourselves, that benefits the students in terms of diversity, tolerance, understanding, and patience.
Regards, Barry
Hi Cathryn:
As teachers learn more about themselves they are better prepared to deal with their students in a positive and inspire motivation.
Regards, Barry
Hi Alexis:
I think teachers mature, both chronologically and developmentally. Each class can serve as a "lab for teachers", ultimately using the culmination of many years to blossom and expand the capabilities a teacher possesses. Along with that, by necesity, comes an understanding of diverse student populations and their uniquenesses. Both merge to form a creative learning environmet.
Regards, Barry
It's important to understand myself for many reasons. How do I think my students will perceive me if I am trying to teach from my weaknesses as well as from my strengths? Students might be uneducated in thier chosen career fields, but they are by no means stupid.
Helps to define teaching style and methodology to maximize students learning ability.
I think it is very important to understand yourself and your teaching ability. If you are not able to relate to all types of students then you need to do some work to get there. I have now been teaching for a year and I have run across many different personalities and if I did not understand myself I would not be able to understand the students.
It is essential to understand yourself and evaluate yourself in order to become a successful instructional leader. one needs to understand and appreciate your own style of teaching and delivering method in order to receive adequate understanding from your students. Once someone is comfortable with a natural method of teaching it will allow self satisfaction and an appreciation from the learners.
Hi Richild:
A good self understanding provides an instructor to play to their strengths and work on improving weaker areas (but not ignore them).
I think we all have stronger areas and that we depend on these. Students expect a teacher who is prepared, expert in their field, and able to convey the key concepts involved in the instruction of the class.
Good planning and prepartion can be helpful to teachers who may need a little extra time working to present a thorough class.
Regards, Barry
If you understand yourself, you will be able to maximize the course delivery and the expectations of yourself as well as the students.
Hi Mark:
Right!. When we present ourselves as sincere, students will aprreciate the honesty that conveys. They want to see a genuine version of us at our best, not a imitation of someone else.
So, being confident also helps convey compewtence. Students will apreciate that.
Regards, Barry
Hi Rick:
Good thought - and meaningful. A we grow professionally, our students become the beneficiaries.
Regards, Barry
Self-awareness not only provides the confidence to teach. It also provides the confidence to learn from mistakes, and to admit to your students when you've made a mistake.
Hopefully, by demonstrating you understand yourself, you serve as a model for your students, who need to develop strong self-awareness in their own careers.
If we don't understand ourselves in the professional/career context, how can we improve?
Understanding yourself as an instructor breeds a
greater opportunity for personal growth, in which
benefits the student body and the overall classroom experience.
