Know yourself..
I believe it is imperative that an instructor know his or her strengths and weakneses in order to be effective. It allows us to impart what we know and work on what we may be unsure of.
Salina,
Also, students expect us to be competent, and instructors want to project that they're confident. Understanding ourselves so that we can convey these attributes adds to the trust in our abilities that students seek, and expect.
Barry Westling
Knowing yourself allows you to be more effective, help you present material in the way that fits your personality.
Robin ,
Great sentiments. We can be friendly without being friends. And our goal is instruction by following a model, a curriculum, in a forum of guidelines and processes. Whether the students like the process is not the issue, it's their learning we are most focused on. I agree many times students will come around to observing the wisdom and ways of their instructor was there to assist them in their success.
Barry Westling
David ,
I agree and believe sincerity and honesty reveal integrity of the instructor, and that can build improved trust and respect among students. Everyone appreciates someone who is real, authenitic, and down to earth, conveying they are there for the student's success.
Barry Westling
I find, that as in all scenarios, it is wise to be my authentic-self. It creates a continuity in the classroom of some expectation on my part , as well as the students' in how we interface with one another. Additionally, I create an environment of discipline and I make students aware that I am there to help them be successful in the course. I am true to this. They often don't like me in the beginning and remark on my strictness - I don't waiver - because at the end of the course, they document their appreciation for the opportunity to be successful in the course and in their academic preparatory skills.
For me,
showing that you know the material is very important, but what also is important is the saying "I dont have the answer to that question right now" it shows humility. Just make sure you come back the next day with an answer.
Vester,
Yep, students look to us as more than educators at times, but at a minimum they initially give us their respect and trust. We owe them what we can to pass along the baton to the next generation.
Barry Westling
I agree completely with this sentiment/statement. As I think back on my own education, the instructor/professor/mentors that I respected the most were the ones that I went to the most when I had questions. That respect came directly from the level of confidence that they gave off for what they knew. The confidence in what they knew also let them feel most comfortable admitting what they didn't know. As a student, I could sense when a professor was "winging it." Now that I am in that position, it is really important to convey what I know, and then point my students in the right direction when I don't.
Robert,
Yes. What I bring into the classroom is the sum of my education, training, experience, and desire to teach students all I can. That is a drive I want to convey each and every classroom session.
Barry Westling
