I too benefit from reading student surveys, but isn't making immediate changes to syllabus and such a little reactive. I would take the opinions to heart and change after a few classes have expressed different opinions about what is and what is not working.
I own a business, bakery manufacturing, and I use the knowledge that I gain on a daily basis to educate my class about what is happening currently in the industry.
I keep current in my subject area. I read and research. I employ visuals extensively, I also give written information, and I verbally give information. I also mentor my students. Many have jobs and family to manage in addition to their studies, and I need to be aware of their concerns, particularly in time management.
Hi Nancy,
Good approach. You are using the resources available to you and those are your students. Their experiences and backgrounds really help to bring such valuable content and examples to the classroom.
Gary
Even though I am the Instructor, I like to see myself as a Facilitator, in that I greatly encourage class participation and discussion. Yes, I am the class leader, however I feel the class benefits greatly from the experiences and expertise from fellow students. They all come from such diverse backgrounds, and they too have educational and career knowledge to share with the other students. I feel we can all learn from each other. We have have some great discussions in class, which futher expands the knowledge gained of the subject at hand.
Hi Gerard,
You share a great way of staying on top of needs of your students in the course plus being reflective o and reactive as needed.
Gary
I first set "reflection time" at the end of each class with my class. I believe in not waiting until evaluation at the end of the course. I will build a lot of my quiz material based on the comments and questions I get at the end of each day...I read and research new subject matters .. I welcome a counter point of view...
Hi Brian,
You are going to have all kinds of experiences and ideas for how you are going to conduct your classes as a result of your observations. Good way to prepare for teaching.
Gary
Hi Jeremiah,
This is a very good way to identify how students see the course. By setting in their seats you can reflect on how you can adjust your instruction to better meet their needs.
Gary
Always having a good relationship with the student, having a sense of humor,letting them know that you care, and asking them how they want to learn will improve instruction.
Well just starting and never actually instructed, but what I am finding very useful is being able to sit in on a variety of different classes. Without having a particular style it is good to be able to watch other more experienced instructors. It is allowing me to see what is effective and what is less effective.
I find that when we place ourselves into the student role it gives us an oppotunity to be reflective on how we learn best and opens pathways to improvment of our instuctional style.
I look at it as a combination of interdependent factors:
-Taking classes in my field
-Observing other instructors
-Taking educational classes
-Surveying my students
Hi Eric,
Student centered instruction is where it is at. You have that by the methods you are using to reach your students and their learning needs.
Gary
-ask your students for feedback. Are they understanding the material as it is presented? Would a different style of delivery be more effective?
-talk with other instructors and trade ideas about techniques that have worked for them.
Ask the students on the first day of class what they want to learn from this class, or what their expectations of the class are. Then, try to implement any of the requests into the class for the term. Before each class starts, talk about the objective for the day, and at the end of each class period, ask oral questions to the class about what we learned; making sure that the objectives were meet. Read student review to imporve my instructional style. You are correct, that each class is different, and you have to react to that so classroom learning is at the highest level. To me it is all about the students. You could also do peer reviews, to see how other instructors perform in the classroom
Hi Tenisha,
Great plan for refining your instructional style. You have a global grasp of what you want to accomplish with your students and how you can do it. Keep up the good work.
Gary
The Techniques I employ to develop, refine and enhance my instructional style are:
1. I research in depth various topics that relate to the subject matter that I am teaching.
2. I assess the age, gender,experience and background of my students and create an affective way to motivate, inspire and instruct them based on the above and more factors.
3. I not only read the evaluations of my students but I ask my co instructors for feed back on what I can do better as an instructor.
4. I try to keep the lines of communication open with my students during class time and during my office hours, this way if they ever have a question, comment or concern they can express it at the appropriate time and location.
5. I implore a large amount of group discussion and team building challenges in class.
Hi Geneveva,
Thanks for sharing all these ideas about how to develop professionally. The greatest teacher of all I believe is the trial and error teacher. You will gain much insight when you make a mistake and you will be able to teach that unit so much better the next time around.
Gary
Hi Christopher,
Good professional development plan. You are getting input and gaining insight from a number of different valuable sources. This will help you to have a global picture of how instruction can be offered for the maximum benefit of the students.
Gary
