As mentioned by others I love teaching, I love my students and I want them to succeed. As you mentioned many students don't have anyone to help them through the maze of higher education so they are in need of a mentor to help them. You mentioned how life events can interfere with their studies and career success. On this topic another forum member mentioned we don't have the skill set to help them navigate through all of their personal problems that affect their schooling. You stated showing students how to work around these situations is where the mentor role comes into play. I agree, and I enjoy mentoring students. Can you give me ideas on how to keep students motivated as they work through these problems? I did see the remarks about listening and I agree. What can we do besides encouragement and sending them to the help resources to keep them motivated?
Hi Gladys,
Good point about also being a guide to your students. This is an important role because you have the life and career experiences to help prepare students to be successful when they leave school.
Gary
Hi Katrina,
Good to hear of your success so far in teaching. Each time you teach a course you will be able to add some new strategies in relation to delivery and you will increase your effectiveness as an instructor. This is what professional development is all about--continued growth.
Gary
As an instructor, I see myself not just as a model, manager and motivator; I also see myself as a guide for my students to look into themselves and see what they already know and use and build upon that.
I adjust my instruction to fit their learning styles also. I tend to mix different teaching techniques to make sure I reach everybody. We have many different cultures and backgrounds in the classroom, so I use many different approaches.
As a new instructor, I am still exploring & learning what works well, given my environment & curriculum. But thus far, mini-lectures with review & discussion work well, as I am bound by time constraints with plenty of material to cover.
I like to help students by directing them to the help available on campus if I cannot help them with their academic challenges.
I agree it is important to keep up with abreast current issues and trends from professional journals.Teaching is student centered,review student feedback and make needed changes contributes to your growth in developing instructional methodes.
Hi Linda,
This model should be very successful for your college. The change is frequent enough to keep the students' interest but long enough to get the key information across to the students. The application of their newly acquired knowledge in the 20 minute interactive session should really seal the deal in terms of learning.
Gary
We recently incorporated the 20/20/10 methodology to the classrooms...20 minute lecture/discussion, 20 minutes interactive excercies/hands on work and 10 minute break to every hour of class. This keeps faculty on track and keeps the learning porcess structured. In addition, faculty should continue to tweak their presentation and demonstration skills by reviewing surveys and observations and trying different techniques. This allows the faculty to "stretch" their potential and adds variety for the students.
It is always a great idea to review student feedback and make needed changes based on their experience in my class. Also, it is helpful to reamin abreast of current issues and trends from professional journals.
Hi Luis,
Good question and the solution depends on the class dynamics. I have had success in dealing with class leaders by placing each one in a small group where they have to interact with other students. This puts everyone in the same situation since it is a newly formed group. I have found that in many cases the assumed leader doesn't emerge as the group leader but another person steps forward and becomes the leader.
Gary
Hi Kelly,
This is an important part of being a teacher. Thank you for commenting on this aspect of bringing the human factor into the classroom. By listening to students you are showing your concern for their situations and that you care about their success.
Gary
The techniques I plan to use is to build upon the knowledge of the students by using audio visual aids within the classroom. In my field I think it helps to be able to see cetain things. I have asked my program director what the process is to bring in others who may have a particular diagnosis so the students can see what we are talking about. I always thought the worst thing possible is going to do a clinical and not having any ideal of what you are looking at, or how to position yourself to safely work with a patient. Yes lab work will help, but to really bring in someone who has a particular injury and have the ability to go hands on in a safe controlled environment is important and can be useful.
As for myself I also plan to make sure I can be a resource to my students. I want to make sure that any question they may have, I will have the answer, or we do research to locate the answer. This will teach them how to find the answer, and may teach them a few extra things along the way.
Dr. Meers,
In this situation, would it be best to assume that the leadership attitudes be broken up also? To clarify, if there are several students who believe they are the leader of the class, should they be allowed to be in the same group so that other groups are allowed to have emerging leaders, or should those leaders from group 1 be broken up so they can lead and be happy?
Lora,
I also agree with you about not giving students the answers that they want. As a mentor, leader, instructor, or whatever else we can be called for some, I believe that we need to teach students how to think outside of the box. Working in healthcare is not going to be follow step 1 then proceed to step 2 and so forth. At any moment in our day step 1 can be followed by step 10 becasue something may have went wrong. But to communicate how to avoid getting to step 10 after step 1 is crtical. We need to make sure we teach outside the box thinking, but more importantly if concerned about soemthing ask for help and do not be afraid.
A statement I heard a few weeks ago is you gain experience the moment after you needed it in another situation. Interesting I think but yet so true.
I fully agree. If we do not take the time to listen to our students they are not going to care and they will stop listening to us.
A large amount of my studetns are also single parents, full time working students. I am able to mentor my students and they know I understand their needs because I myself and a single parent with 3 jobs. I can give them guideance on time management and good study skills. They also know I care because I can listen and understand their time constraints. I don't allow my students to say they did not have time. My students know how busy I am but I am always prepared and on time for class and they know I expect the same from them.
I keep up with developments in my field and look to see if new videos are available.
Student feedback is extremely useful. It often helps me to clarify what is working well and what needs improvement, particularly when teaching a new course. In those circumstances, I tend to ask students for feedback at the beginning of class and encourage a short discussion among everyone.
Hi Arthur,
You are dead on with your planning in terms of both delivery and variety. I know your students value your preparation efforts and your students will be on the edge of their seats as a result.
Gary
