Hi Caroline,
This is what being a model, manager and motivator is all about. You have a great approach to demonstrating these three Ms to your students. This will help to make the class flow much smoother throughout the course phase in addition to establishing rapport and respect with the students.
Gary
Showing your student that you care enough to listen will go a long way. Your point is well taken that you don't need the skill set to solve every problem but knowing where to send the student is very helpful.
I thought I was well prepared before and now I see how I can improve on that a whole lot more.
I would present myself in a very professional way. Dress appropriately and be on time consistently. I could think back to my instructors and pick out what I liked and did not like from each of them. For example, I had one teacher who was extremely challenging in that she required us to go out into the field and get hands-on experience. I was always anxious about branching out like that, but after each assignment I felt exponentially more competent. I would focus on learning the demographics of who I'm teaching as well. I feel that knowing that can be allow me to cater to their varying learning styles.
Feedback is a very interesting topic and one that I am discussing in my Human Resource Management class. In my class, we have all agreed that most of the time, taking surveys and filling out questionnaires is annoying and most people find themselves just ticking whatever box quickly in order to get out of the class or situation as soon as possible. I have asked them to think about what can be done to change this attitude, because it is so important to the person receiving the feedback in order to improve. I have been encouraging "out of the box" thinking. One of my favorite responses was the two-sided feedback. We, as teachers are being evaluated on our performance and how we act in class, yet students are only evaluated on what they turn in. Maybe teachers should fill out a similar survey or questionnaire that our students fill out. Asking us how we see them as students. Maybe they don't realize what they look like when they are falling asleep in class, or how they are perceived by how they look or act. Making them more self aware would be a great way to transform them into the professional world!
Emily Browne
I enjoy my job and being a mentor and leader for my students. I have to remember the thin line they try to cross to become my friend. Even though I like some of them a lot I never cross that line. We have had problems with instructors being too friendly with students before.
Constantly gaining knowledge about your topic...constantly learning new and better ways to present material...staying current on topics...paying attention to your students responses to see what works and what doesn't...
Focusing on the four different learning styles
Hi Natalie,
Good way to "read" your students and how they are coping with the course. By looking at their needs and making adjustments as needed you demonstrating your abilities as a professional educator.
Gary
I enjoy talking to the students and asking them how they learn. It is also beneficial to ask them if they way in which the course is being explained/taught is most beneficial to them.
A few times, through this method, I have changed they way I am instructing mid-course by listening to my students.
I agree that students assessments helps you realize your strengths and weakness . It helps you improve your teaching style for future classes.
Mariann U
I have been in the medical field for 20 years. When I teach I teach based on my experiences. I give students real life case scenarios based on patients I have taken care of. This established my full potetential and rapport with the students.
Students are then asked to create scenarios based on patients they have taken care of. This is discussed in post-conferences on most clinical days.
Mariann U
First, I believe that through student feedback one begins to realize what the students find effective in your personal teaching style. Realizing your strengths and how to best use them to convey the class objectives is a win win situation. Next, observe which teaching methods seem to work the best based on the students acheivements in class. Speaking with co-workers in regards to their teaching ideas and techniques is also helpful in helping one increase successful teaching techniques.
I very much agree. There is nothing like making it real world as opposed to only philosophical or conceptual discussion. Every chance I get, I try to associate something that is going on around us that will relate to the topic or concept at hand.
Dear Dr. Meers,
Having worked in the food industry for most of my adult life (44 years), I have a great deal of personal life experiences, business ventures, and European travels and studies that I can bring to each class. My instructional style is also based on my experience in lecture and daily planning scheduling that I acquired from my early studies in Education(teaching and acquiring my BS in Education at the early age of 21). Lastly, my many years as a a professional dancer has given me a stage presence and delivery that the students seem to be drawn to. The students are anxious to hear stories of my culinary education in Paris, France, my meeting with Julia Child and Simca; my working with today's celebraties like Mario Batalli and Giada deLaurentis, and the everyday toil and hard workload of a restaurant owner, caterer, and personel chef. I try to bring to life for them the excitment I felt as a young culinary student, and also the realities of the profession. I try through visual, audio, and tactile demonstrations to encourage, inform, and instruct the students with various aids and demonstrations with both the classical and current techniques of their desired studies and craft. My personality and love for my craft, has greatly stimulated and inspired students to request my classes. I try to know my students needs and always try to keep up with current trends, and culinary educational classes. I also try to encourage and motivate my students with an instructional style that I feel comfortable in, and one that also meets the needs of my students.
Chef Bobby Falite
To refine and enhance my instructional style I believe it is important to stay current by reading industry magazines and articles, AND to continue to review the current content of my course to become THE expert on the material. Next, it is important to read the reviews of your course with an open mind to see if you have any unrecognized habits that could be a distraction to your students.
I agree that end course surveys are important for a class. It gives the instructor insight on what to enhance or change for the following quarter. In order for the students to speak honestly, the survey would have to be anonymous.
I believe that teaching from the heart with many life examples keeps the students motivated. I have over 11 years of IT experience and with the real life examples of the study materials the student respect myself and each other when they participate as well.
STAYING CURRENT WITH YOUR FILD OF STUDY AS NOT TO FALL BEHIND THE TIMES.
Thats true wendy,when a instructor does the opposite and make the students fill like they dont care, the students can pick up on it and start not to care themselves.
