When I think of techniques in refining and enhancing my personal instructional style, I think of my students. Feedback from my students helps me gage what I need to do to improve my ability to relay course information to the students.
Hi Tanya,
Always keep that attitude and you will continue to improve in your instructional skills. We all need to be life long learners when it comes to our field and our professional development. This way our students will benefit as we improve.
Gary
Hi Mary,
Yes, we are on the same page. By getting feedback from your students throughout the course you can make adjustments to the current course rather than having to wait until you start a new course. This way you can meet current needs as indicated in the feedback comments.
Gary
Hi Kristine,
You just mentioned something that is lacking in many classrooms today. "Common sense" If we have developed our ability to trust and read our instinct we will be able to adjust to the situation and still meet our goal. Well said.
Gary
I have quite a bit of experience in my field; however, I still find myself asking others how I can improve. I don't like to feel like I have all the answers because there would be no way for me to improve futher in my field.
I also believe that students should be able to critique their own work. It helps them to be proactive in their thinking and to respond. It helps them to become self empowered and know that they are in control of their own work with the instructor being the "guiding light". I believe there is a stronger retention of material when students are thinking about and discussing and critiquing their own work daily.
Reveiwing feedback from students and comparing it to the goals and objectives created for the class. Are we all on the same page? If not, what areas need to be addressed.
We are always finding ways to become better educators. Taking courses like this, attending seminars and watching peers teach are ways to improve oneself.
But one thing I have learned that I stick to is that you have to trust your instinct in the classroom. If something is not going over well with class, you have to switch it up. You have to be over planned for class and you have to change things when need be.
After 38 years of serving as a manager and facilitator of learning in numerous capacities as an educator I am finding that returning to teaching at the university level is very beneficial to me both emotionally and intellectually. The excitement of once again being able to learn with the students and share experiences has served to awaken me to new opportunities for growth. The monitary considerations and financial benefits are of little importance and this fact gives me a new opportunity to thoroughly enjoy the rewards of teaching and learning. My learning style is to work with all students by understanding their needs, goals, limitations, and capabilities and using all the educational tools at my disposal to have them become successful in their career
goals. The students have responded positively.
Today, I had the students critique their own work. As I listened to them discussing the pros and cons of their own work, I was able to find a few areas of today's lecture and demonstration where the instructions could have been a little more specific. Now, I can provide more detailed information in the future.
Hi David,
Great analogy. If your students can get this concept into their minds they are going to be successful in their education and work. Keep up the encouragement and I know it will pay off big time.
Gary
Hi Todd,
Create student learning groups and give them some projects or case studies. If possible create some competition between the groups. This really gets student to student learning going. It is a lot of fun and the students learn a lot.
Gary
I am a chess player and a basic concept is the success of one comes from the support of many. I use this for students in team building and a respect for friends ,family, loved ones as well as fellow students and teachers.
A technique that I need to integrate into my teaching style is to step back from the lecture portion and create more "hands-on" opportunities. I currently use an atmosphere where the students feel comfortable asking questions and participating in activities, but I don't always provide an avenue for student to student learning.
Tap dance - isn't that the truth!
Hi Mary,
There are a number of activities that you can try to get the students to learn using music or games. One game I like is PowerPoint Jeopardy. This game you load in your own questions and answers and it works just like the game on tv. Another thing I like is for the students working in groups to come up with games and/or songs using the course content. I create competition with my students in these activities which really gets them involved in learning.
Gary
Hi Christina,
Professional pride is powerful. That is the true measure of a teacher if they are motivated by the results of their students completing their career training program. This is motivation that lasts.
Keep up the encouragement.
Gary
Hi Sara,
Spoken by a teacher that really enjoys what she is doing. Don't ever lose your excitement about your students and your field. The true rewards of teaching are the relationships and legacy of seeing your students being successful. Enjoy.
Gary
Hi Susan,
What a great professional development plan. Like many career areas, teaching is one from which we can all benefit by observing other instructors. There are so many things we can pick up from them that will help us to be more effective in our own class or lab.
Gary
Hi Christina.
You have a great opportunity to encourage and refine the educational delivery of instructors under your supervision. I know they benefit from not only the training they receive from you but the suggested activities as well. As you know many beginning instructors are in need of activities they can use in their classes that come to veteran instructors easily.
Gary
