Hi Tracey,
I agree. It is like having a dog that runs away and when caught it is beat with a newspaper. It only takes a couple of times for the dog to realize that if they catch me I am going to be beaten. Thus, the next time the dog is let loose it runs off and is even harder to catch. Teachers that use the fear model generally are using the method because they themselves are insecure about their ability to teach. Rapport with students is a must. This is the way to get the engaged in the learning process.
Gary
I find that caring about the success of my students is my greatest tool for motivating them. I am also a mature woman who teaches young adults, so the fact that I am young at heart, and keep up with the trends (without being silly about it) helps my rapport with them. A relaxed sense of humor when appropriate certainly comes in handy, along with compassion, when dealing with students' frustrations.
One technique that can be employed is looking at your past--your own past instructors. Like the information stated, we all had instructors that we feared and those that we loved. I believe though, that when instructors use the "fear" technique, it can have a detrimental effect. I don't believe anyone can learn in that environment
Hi Ken,
It is good that you realized what instructional style you want to use in your class after having experienced good instruction in your own education. Keep up your professional growth and not only will you enjoy your teaching career your will benefit as well.
Gary
Hi Martha,
Excellent suggestions all. Having been active in state and national associations I have found many rewards both professionally and personally from the years I have spent working with these groups. My work has put me in contact with some of the best educators in America. In additional your exposure to "Best Practices" in teaching through journals and in-service activities all will help you to expand and refine your instructional delivery. Keep up the good work. You have a great professional development plan working for you.
Gary
My instructional style relies very heavily on both my industrial experience and my success in education. In that way I am able to communicate with my students in a manner similar to what I was comfortable as a student. As a student, I was always comfortable with instructors who exhibited technical expertise and who communicated with students at their level in a non-condesending manner. This style quite natural for me and is the basis for a rewarding educational career.
Being active in national or regional professional organizations assists to develop your instructional style. In addition, by assessing the environment and evlauting the needs of your students,this allows you to utilize "situational" instuctor style. Some students, you must ask questions, to ensure that they understand what you are saying, others you can capture the essence of their understanding through conversational dialogue, as well as class assignments. I try to read several differnet journal articles per week from different sources to keep me up to date. Internet searches and asking students for feedback and if they are capturing the understanding of the material being presented also helps one to udnerstand if youneed to change your style to meet the needs of the students.
Martha Dispoto
Consulting professional journals, Observing other successful instructors and trying to emulate the traits of instructors and teachers that I had during my years of schooling.
Hi Elaine,
Congratulations on your professional development plan. By looking at the ways others present course content and then looking at literature that is helpful to you with your classes are both great ways to grow.
The "show and tell" session I know gave you additional tools that you can use in your classes.
Keep up the good work.
Gary
I enjoy observing other instructors' classes. We just had a workshop yesterday in which we did "show and tell" with techniques for changing up the pace of a class (to avoid too much lecturing). It was very helpful!
I also like to read journals in my field and keep current with the news so I can help the students relate the knowledge in the classroom to the business world.
Hi William,
I think you will find a number of helpful items contained within this course. In addition, I will try to help you with any specific questions you might have as you proceed through the course.
A strong part of being a good instructor is the use of "common sense". In the career college arena there is a lot of it but sometimes it is forgotten in the teaching area. Think how you handled different situations when you were in your career field and then think how you can transfer that approach into a teaching technique. You will find that you a number of solutions that you can use to help your students to stay focused on the learning process.
Gary
I've always hungerd to expand my teaching skills and so i continue to look for differant and better ways to reach my students. I beleave that by stimulating a students mind you open them up to learning and to participate in there education .This is the reason i've enrolled in this course.
Hi Mark,
The great thing about you going into the classroom is that you have great experience in the field. This gives you self confidence when you approach the classroom. You are an expert in the subject matter. As an educator it is a matter of getting your delivery and organization developed so efficient and effective learning can occur. Keep this in mind as you work with your students and your abilities and skills will grow as well.
Gary
Hi John,
I am sure these examples are very helpful to your students as they start to see the concrete examples of how their newly acquired knowledge can be of help to them.
What are some samples of the examples you share with your students?
Gary
For myself I think most of all I need to get comfortable with lecturing. Our field is very hands on, and I am very comfortable with all elements of it from a technical sense and feel very confident helping students in this area. But being new to teaching requires that I be a better lecturer and speaker, so I'm going to focus my efforts on that area.
I try to use simple examples that we use in everyday life to help students learn more complex problems.
Hi Dr. Peerzade,
You hit on a very key point for instructors. Patience. If an instructor doesn't have that teaching is going to be a challenge since almost everything that is involved in teaching requires patience. We all have to work at making sure we have plenty of patience or work at increasing our ability to have patience.
Gary
My instructor style is to have the students be serious about the class content,but to have fun,encouraging questions throughout the total class time while in session,also to break down the most complex material,make it easy to understand,with the use of examples,and to make it fun!
Hello Meers,
For me understanding the class and their intellect capacity is very important based on that I vary my teaching methods and how I impart the knowledge.Patience is the key, listening, showing concern and teaching bits and bytes and repetition are important.
Dr Peerzade
I totally agree with you as far as looking back at the why I like some of the Professors that taught me and how I would like to be remembered. I have seen honesty works but passion and understanding the class is equally important
Dr Peerzade
