First time instructor
I will be taking over the class of an instructor that the students have grown very fond of and are sad to see her leave. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how help them transition from an instructor they really liked to a me, a first time instructor?
Autumn,
Thank you for sharing your experience in making the transition from one instructor to another. Your efforts to show you are a dedicated professional educator paid off with you being accepted as the instructor and your students moving beyond the instructor they had and making you the instructor they have.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I also took over teaching for a well-liked instructor and found at first, the students were argumentative and questioned me every chance they got. As the classes continued and I was able to prove that the assignments I am giving and the knowledge I am sharing would help in the long run. Quickly I was able to gain their trust and the bad attitudes disappeared. Some of the students were resistant to change, but once they got to know me and realized that I had a lot of experience in their field and knowledge to share with them they were able to appreciate me as their educator.
Mirabella,
I imagine that things are going well for you at this point in your teaching career with all the wonderful input you received below. All you can do is be yourself and give from the heart with compassion, wisdom and laughter!
Hi Valerie,
Welcome to the profession of teaching. Tough way to get started when you walk into setting that is already up and running. I am sure you will hear advice from many sources and you can sort through the advice and select which find most helpful.
Be yourself. Your experience has gotten to the point that you have been hired to share your knowledge with others. Take your experience blend it with your personality and you will be ready to face your new students. Spend a few minutes having them introduce themselves to you as if it were the first day of class. This will help you get to know them better and will give you some time to get settled in and start to "read" the class. Once this is done you can talk about how the class will be conducted. Do this in forthright manner as the students will want to respond that this isn't how Mr/Mrs/Ms/Dr so and so did it. You don't need to have that discussion. Keep the introduction to the class upbeat and forward focused. If you are going to lecture make it a short one and then have the students do lab work, small groups, or some activity. This is to take some pressure off of you. You will be amazed how quickly you get settled into the class and your students start to see you as the new instructor and class manager.
Let me know how your first day turns out.
Gary
Well Marbella I am actually in the same situation so I understand how you are feeling. My first day of class will be on Thursday so I'm really worried they wont be able to except the transition. So do you have any pointers for me to get through my first day?
Jay is right. Never ever say "you are new at this era". Show them a lot of confidence, consitency and dedication.
It has been a challenging and exciting few months - learning and adapting to my new role as a clinical educator for LVN. Having a more than thiry years of clinical bedside experience had enhance my teachings. There is always room for improvement and my DON and her assistant had paved the way for me to be better everyday.
Donita Ganzon, RN
Hi Tomika,
You make a good point about fresh start, fresh face, new perspective. As an instructor in this setting you have the opportunity to create a supportive nurturing learning environment that will help each student to achieve the their personal career goal.
Gary
YOU KNOW AS FAR AS MYSELF I LIKE THE FACT OF BEING THAT FIRST TIME INSTRUCTOR. YOU CAN BRING YOUR OWN STYLE OF TEACHING AS WELL AS BEING YOURSELF WITHOUT LOOSING FOCUS OF THE LEARNING CONTENT. YOU CAN ALSO LEARN FROM THE STUDENTS THAT ARE YOUR FIRST STUDENTS. YOU'LL COME INTO THE ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT BEING BIAS OF ANY OTHER STUDENTS AS WELL AS SCHOOLS THAT YOU PREVIOUSLY
TAUGHT AT.
Hi Marbella. I think it is important to remember that even though you are filling the shoes of an instructor who was well liked, you will be teaching students who probably have never had the previous instructor as their teacher. Also, ask the students to tell you about themselves and their goals. They may know nothing about the course content but they do know themselves. Good luck.
The information that Jay discussed is extremely helpful. I am a first time instructor who has taken oven a class and it has been extremely challenging but, utilizing the correct tools makes all the difference.
LaVonda Martinez
As a first time instructor,I would develope my own teaching style and appeal to their interests. Work the interest into the lessons and keep them focused.Make it fun but, I'm careful not to loose class control.
Hello Marbella,
I am also new to classroom teaching.Though I have taught in the past,I understand how you may feel.In my prior experience, the students were employees who requested help or were required by their employers to learn new skills. This took place in the employers facility and usually under the employers supervision. My concerns are mostly in the area of classroom control. Recently, I have had the benefit of sitting in on several class sessions and observing seasoned instructors as they taught and handled some issues. This has been most beneficial in giving me ideas and direction in how to handle a younger group of students.
I do agree that actually listening to students does provide useful information. This feedback sometimes provides new insights that contribute to a more effective teaching process.
Marabella,
The first rule that I follow is don't tell the students your new.
The very first class I taught many years ago I was thrown in front of without any prior training or real classroom experience...
I believe that to an extent we are all actors and so I played the part of a seasoned instructor.
I introduced myself to the students and told them I had been teaching for years. Technically we assist and mentor others in the shop so I was telling the truth. I had the knowledge and since the students don't have a script if you present yourself to them in a professional and positive manner they will accept it as fact. Since each class is different and students vary by class...attitude, ability, demeanor...each class is a fresh start and like your first.
Next, if taking over a class I let the students know my professional background and certifications and tell them how and what I expect from a class. I let them know by using stories relating to different employeers and bosses how different things can be yet change, for all of it's frightening nature (well for most) is a good thing...I never try to emulate or be what the last teacher or instructor was like because I am not them and this would do more to damage the relationship with the students. I have experienced another instructor in the past trying to be me...copied the same style of teaching, humor etc. and it doesn't work...your true self must shine through or the students will see you are not sincere. I also will not try to prove that I am always right. While I am in charge and know the material to be a good instructor means you must first be a good studnet. We should strive to learn daily and to that end if a question comes up where I need to look up the information to confirm or perhaps have not encountered exactly what the student is referring to I tell them I am not sure and would like to research the correct answer. I will often offer the job of finding the proof or answer to the student who raised the question and ask them in turn to share it with myself and the class. This lets them know I am a real person and also builds their own self worth as they research and present the informtion to their peers. I also always add that those who try often make mistakes and if we learn from those mistakes we can grow. Who hasn't been in a situation where in a hurry we move a decimal point and come up with the wrong value. In an electrical situation it can cause a fuse to blow, your bank account can be overdrawn, the old favorite a board can be cut too short...
I say stick to your own personal style...what feels natural and above all be sincere and have fun...this will help the students the most....
A fellow instructor in learning!
I would allow the students to personally acknowledge the Professor and her contributions as a way of "breaking the ice" as a new instructor.
Hello Marbella, As new instructor myself I try keeping my being nervous under wraps by trying to draw people out. Getting the students to give a personal introduction and tell what they have learned that has impacted them in the course to this point. It helps break the ice.When you can draw on the info days later it begins to establish credibility that you were actually listening to them.
Glenda Bisbee
Hi Marbella. I still remember the day I took over for an instructor of 28 years and it was alittle unnerving. The one thing I did have to remind my that first day was that I knew my stuff. I had studied, practiced and ran through my materials so many times that I could almost do it in my sleep. I also "talked" not just instruct them that day to let them know that even though I wasn't the other instructor that I was there to help them succeed and would always have an open door policy with them. Seven years later I am still teaching and couldn't ever imagine doing anything else. Good Luck!
Hi Marbella!
This is Jay Hollowell, Training Manager for MaxKnowledge; I often guest facilitate courses along with the instructors. In regard to your question, I have copied for you below a response that I gave to another new instructor earlier this month. Hope it helps and keep up the good work!
Jay
One of the hardest roles is to take over a class taught by a former instructor. With 28 years in the career school industry, just let me say this as a starting guidance (for what it's worth):
-In addition to stating what your expectations of them are, ask them about their expectations of you - or, this is what I expect from you, now what do you expect from me? Create a partnership or a contract.
-Let them see you as the subject matter expert right from the onset.
-Be consistent, consistent and consistent!
-Demonstrate that you know they have valuable ideas and skills to bring to the table, but you are still the instructor.
-Vary your teaching methods with blended activities, active presentations, demonstrations, personal examples and stories, and try to reach the different learning styles.
-Never emphasize, "I am new at this, or this is the first time I have ever taught this;" you are the teacher and there for the right reasons.
-Have students keep a learning journal where they summarize each lesson or application, develop there own questions and relate outcomes directly to the workplace.
-Allow each student a chance to shine.
-Don't be afraid to pull rank when you have to - it strengthens respect if done for the right reason.
The list goes on, but this is a start. To our other instructors, what would you add?
Jay Hollowell
MaxKnowledge/CEE
