Hi Deborah:
I like your honest comment. I think we need to be a genuine version of ourselves and we can't be anymore than that on any given day.
That's not to say we can't improve. We should pursure continuous improvement. But that requires a commitment; first to try to identify where improvement is needed, then, the harder part, is following through with efforts to make a realisic change that will result in a greater understanding and better person/teacher. A willingness to change is difficult if we want to be sincere about it, and lasting.
Regards, Barry
Hi Amanda:
Genuine interest in improvement is an ongoing journey, really never attaining the top (there is no top).
When a teacher is serious about wanting to make improvements, they will do all that it requires, such as peer reviews, supervisor evaluations, classroom evaluations, student surveys, self evaluations, testing and evaluation using teacher preparation assessments, personality and learning styles training, etc. The harder part is to follow through with recommendations or results of the testing.
I think everyone probably wants to improve, but not all are able or will want to work at it. Much like an athelete in training, it takes patience, sustained effort, and honesty with ourselves in order to see a change.
Regards, Barry
Hi Andrew:
Achieving a deep and accurate understanding of ourselves allows us to be ourselves, act with confidence, demonstrate our competence, and approach each student with a degree of tolerance, acceptance, and patience - because we're not into some "control or authority" trip, that's really offensive and discourages an openness to students. Effective instructors must excerise control and authority; I'm talking about autocratically lording it over students, due to our inadequacy.
Regards, Barry
I feel it is important to understand yourself as an instructor because in doing so we are forced to acknowledge our weekness and strengths and improve upon them
It is important to understand yourself as an instructor because you will then be able to define yourself and not rely on others'true or false interpretations of you. Then, if others interpretations are true you may then be more likely to change for the better.
It is so important to understand your strengths and weaknesses so that you can constantly adapt and improve your teaching skills. I want to be a better instructor every day, and I want my students to be as excited about my area of expertise as I am.
Hi Mary Jane:
I think we are capable of recognizing a area needing improvement, but not willing to do anything about it. If we truely want to understand ourselves, we have to be genuinely and sinerely hosest with ourseselves in order to try to get to the root of defects or imperfections that we feel limit us. Only if we are willing to seek improvement will real change occur.
Regards, Barry
Hi Paul:
For me, I have found I continue to mature as a teacher as the years of challenging myself and my students has grown. As I have become more confident in both my content area, I feel more able to try new techniques to assist my students learn.
It takes a bit of courage to deviate from what we know works, but it can be worth it if students benefit (believe me, not everything has been a rousing success - I think that why they call it experience).
Regards, Barry
understanding yourself helps to build on your weakness and enhance you strengths
Hi Jake:
Obviously we are going to use what we know best and are the most comfortable. Much of what we do as instructors seems very much task oriented.
Developing a greater understanding of ourselves, if we want to be honest and see true improvement, is a deeply personal matter that requires introspection, self analysis, and coming to terms with possible unpleasant reality.
Teachers who are willing to endure a longterm effort at self improvement will beneifit their students in the end. But I also have to say there really is no end, as this process continues to evolve until we say enough. It's a fact, we are going to change with time. Change for the better will require special attention.
Regards, Barry
Self knowledge is always important but as an instructor you will know when to engage students and when not to so as to keep the lecture progressing.
Being cognizant of our shortcomings can help us avoid making our students suffer from them; we can insulate students from these deficiencies by carefully planning and creating lectures, class assignments, group work, etc. Knowing our strengths is, of course, also useful, as we can tailor time in class and course material to take advantage of what we do well.
Ultimately, it allows us to improve and adapt as best we can to each unique class and learning environment.
Hi Kilyoung:
Good. Students like to hear situations about the work setting their being prepared for. Being confident that you won't look foolish or inexperienced goes a long ways to making this technique effective.
Regards, Barry
Hi Richard:
Steven Covey says "seek first to understand, then be understood" (from Seven Habits book). When we strive to gain a greater understanding of ourselves, and are willing to be honest with ourselves in making improvements, I think we stepped into a greater level of commitment to our profession and are doing our students a great servive as the result.
Regards, Barry
having a good understanding of myself will help me determine what type of instructor I will be. it will also tell assist me with identifying my strengths and weaknesses and how i can use one to better the other.
You talked about your own experience as a student in the past and I like to bring that up with my class.
Hi Lisa:
Your plan makes sense. It's true, our need for flexibility, tolerance, patience, discipline and support are needed at various times. Having an accurate perception of how we think and act can help us deal fairly and reasonably with all the different personality types we're likey to encounter over time.
Regards, Barry
I think an understanding of yourself is crucial in many areas of your life but especailly as an instructor. Every Student learns in a different way and in order to reach them all you have to plan activities to keep them motivated. I have all of my students take personality assesment as well so that I get to know their personalities and can plan my lesson in accordance with how they learn. Knowing both my personality and a glimpse of thiers make that planning much easier.
Hi Joseph:
I think this one of those philosophical questions that can be looked from different perspectives.
I always quote Stephen Covey’s “7 habits of Highly Effective People†with his statement “Seek first to understand, then be understood. I think that’s a powerful statement with deep meaning, really having more to do with communication than self awareness.
At the same time, Covey begins with “Be Proactiveâ€. To be truly proactive, one must have a keen sense of self awareness, or more simply, knowing ourselves. In the end, there is balance.
Improvements, however they’re labeled, and however we achieve them is the goal of good instructors. I think we have to be willing to first recognize improvement is needed, then be willing to do what is necessary in order to make the change, and hopefully, permanently.
Regards, Barry
Well Barry, if you don't understand yourself first then it is a little difficult to understand others.
