Hi Lynn,
Keep plugging away at your planning and development of instructional strategies. What you are experiencing is "getting control" of your career syndrome. Not unusual for beginning instructors. When you are spending these very long work weeks trying to stay ahead of your students look for ways that you can present this same content next quarter without as much planning. Currently, not only are you getting familiar with the content but you are trying to manage a class and select instructional deliveries that will meet the needs of your students. All of these planning items take a lot of time as you well know. Once you get through this first course you will have a much better idea of where you should spend your time and how you can improve your course. Each time you teach the course it will get easier and require less planning time. Also, after a couple of times of teaching the course you will start to see how you can add additional PP slides or activities that will increase student interest.
We have all been where you are and it was tough but we made it. Teaching also becomes more fun once you get control of the content and delivery because you get to concentrate more on your students and their needs. Spending time with your students and supporting them is what brings it all home in terms of being an instructor.
Gary
Hi Robert,
You are right about needing to invest the hours. But, as you say the light is there for next quarter. Now that this foundation is laid you can build on it, modify it and add to it when you want to without having to all the development from the beginning.
Gary
At first I put students who sit together in the same group. I assume that they sit together in a social group that they know each other and have similar interests. As the class progresses I learn more about their abilities and I can group strong students with weak ones.
I put everything in Smartboard Notebook. It is also very time comsuming. The light at the end of the tunnel, however, is that next quarter, I can move slides around and make modest modifications and have my lesson ready to go. It will pay off in the longrun. Nobody ever said that you don't put in huge hours in education.
I am new. Right now I do mainly Powerpoint. I know that is not the best but it seems I have no time to plan anything more. my average week is going on 60-70 hours. What am I doing wrong??? I feel like I am beating my head against the wall and am getting very discouraged and am even wondering if I am in the right line of work. I don't want to put in this many hours per week--it is not worth it to me.
I consider my style very straight foward, I like to talk about my expirence in the field and talk about what they can expect out in the real world.
plan course instruction based upon approved syllabus/outline provided to ensure course content and learning objectives are met.
In computer science software design course I had the students create a visual high level diagram of an internet company and all the touch points with external customers. The overall goal was to communicate how the company operated, but visually and minimizing the amount of words used.
Hi Tim,
What type of class assignments do you have your students do after they have viewed the PPT presentation?
Gary
My instructional style is to have students view/watch a PPT slide with sound outside of class and then work on an assignment in class to develop an understanding of the presentation.
Hi Olga,
How do you put your students into groups so there is a good mix of different abilities and interests?
Gary
I use different teaching methods as well. They include lecture with Power Point presentation, group activities, individual work. I found out that students like working in groups. It is quite helpful for them.
Hi Robert,
You make a good point about wanting to make your students feel comfortable in the class. What are some ways you encourage your students to ask for help and to express their feelings in the class?
Gary
I asked my students at the end of class how well they understood the information and whether the learning tool used in that session was helpful. I have found some work great while others were not as helpful.
I try to use a variety of teaching methods in my classroom including lecture, class discussion, group activities, and individual work. I try to keep my classroom informal but productive. I want my students to be comfortable so that they don't hesitate to ask for help or express their feelings.
I think for one, you should stay abreast of any new developments, techniques etc., as they pertain to your subject. In my field of Culinary Arts we are always looking at ways to improve our product(s). In our business people are always coming up with new ways of doing.
Feedback is another. I like to pick out a few students every now and then and get their reaction after a class section. What do you think? Did I present the material in a way that was clear and easy to understand? Would you make any changes? sometimes I try something new. A new way or idea as it pertains to presentation, so I am always interested how well it plays out.
Technology is a great tool when it comes to generating new ideas. Technology has created many new ways to present information, beyond the usual lecture type format. Visual aids, sound great stuff.
I think self refection is important in developing your own instructional style. Take an objective look at yourself, enhance your strengths and work on areas that you're not as strong in that might improve your instructing. I believe another thing that is helpful is to recall the teachers in your life who made a positive impact on you, and think about how they did that; and what the not so effective teachers did, so that you don't use their style.
I agree with you on this one Toni. Sometime getting feedback from student can help as well. Because students are the receiving end and getting feedback from the receiver always shows the true outcome. Anwar
Hi Melissa,
You can use student learning groups or panels to get more students involved. The smaller groups help the students to gain confidence in sharing their ideas with a limited audience. As time goes on their confidence builds and so does their interaction in the class.
Gary
I think one effective way to refine instructional style would be to reflect on ones own earlier practice. This could be done by taping his/her own class activities to be viewed at a later time to look for areas that could be improved. The recorded teaching activity could be shared with others to get their feedback.
