An instructor's personality plays a big role in delivery, in my opinion. I am a very humorous person who enjoys making people laugh. I have found that bringing this into my lecture makes my students enjoy class a lot more. They also tend to pay attention and learn the material in the process. I remember when I was in college, it the personalty of the professor that made class enjoyable. If the instructor was dull in personality, the class tended to be as well.
I think personality plays such an important role in the classroom with every aspect of what you are brining to the table. The students need to see that you are willing to help them and that there is a certain amount of caringness involved. I am always well-prepared when I go into class so the students do not feel overwhelmed or disorganized themselves. I am organized and my students can follow along with my expectations of every class. I also like to show them I am excited about what I am presenting in class. If they see that the instructor likes what they are teaching, they are going to be a little more focused and interested in that class and the content that is being delivered.
Your personality is a vital aspect of the classroom experience. I feel that a really positive personality is contagious to the student. If they see how much you enjoy the subject you are teaching. They in turns become sucked in to that positive experience. On top of that if the instructor is really creative in presenting the subject. That also makes the students want to come to class. Now, on the other hand if your personality is not that enthusiastic, well the students pick up on that and it makes for a very long and boring day. So, Positive personality is vital.
I love teaching and I think it comes from being able to talk easily and relate to what I am doing in the classroom. Your personality makes you who you are and it does come across to your students. I can think of a few instructors I had that could not get a point across even if they carried it because they did not show any enthusiam if their approach. When you spoke to them they were the same way. Some were dry but incorporated a sense of humor that kept you interested. Others just knew how to work the crowd and you were enthralled.
I am of the personality type that is very organized and precise, so I am almost always well prepared for all of my classes. This preparedness transfers to the students and set the expectation for the class as well as for the industry they are about to enter. Through my actions I am demonstrating to them that a professional is organized and prepared. Hopefully they will emulate this and enter into the workforce understanding being prepared will help them be successful in their careers.
Hi Lori:
The best personality is one where the student feels you care, are helpful, and the student benefits. There are gazillions of ways this might manifest, but I believe if these tenets are met, the teachers personality uniquinesses will be well received.
Regards, Barry
Your personality comes into play with the way you teach a class. Many personality types can teach but some do so with less effort because they are naturally more comfortable in that role.
Personality of the instructor in selection of delivery methods is important because if the instructor can deliver the message better with say overhead projection vs. power point then the message will be more clearly delivered and received by the students. There will be more learning and application than if the instructor delivered the material by a method they are not familiar with.
