I'm new to teaching in a college and was nervous the first day. But, as a military retiree, I've found that I can take a lot of what I learned in the military about teaching soldiers and apply it to the classroom. I've found that by challenging the students with new information and utilizing a lab for them to practice has quickly built an effective student/teacher environment. Which has made me much more comfortable as a new teacher.
Hi Nicole,
With your great attitude you are going to do well as an instructor. You are right experience and keen observations will greatly assist you in your professional development. Your students are going to benefit from all of your efforts. Welcome to the profession.
Gary
I will be a new instructor as well. I do have nerves, but I'm also very excited in this new process. My worries are, having my students understanding the subject matter and me being able to break down the information. I know with practice, and preparing ahead of time will make the process as a new teacher a little better.
Hi Tracy:
I, too, am new at teaching and am being tested to the enth degree by my students who are probing for any weak spot. I have been a tad soft while getting to know personalities and acquiring a feel for the school, itself. However, I have definitely made it a point to be firm, as well as friendly to let them know I am the person in charge and that I fully expect them to comply with that simple fact. It has had a positive outcome and each day I see less resistance and more acceptance as they see the consistency applied on a daily basis.
Hi Tracy,
An instructor needs to be direct, personable and consistent in operation of the class. By showing your human side you are showing the students that you care about their success and are there to help them achieve their goals. With this approach they also know what the course polices and requirements are and will follow your leadership in meeting the expectations of the course.
Gary
I believe you can be soft, but let the students know your serious at the same time. I believe it is easier for them to open up to you if you are "soft", but let them know right away what they can and cannot get away with.
Hi Jesse,
Common pit falls for new instructors involve trying to be something that they really aren't. First and foremost teaching is common sense. Think about how you studied and prepared for your career area. Teaching is the same way. Be organized. Have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish in the entire course. I am sure your school gave you a course outline. Study the outline and then determine how you see each class session going. What are the things you are going to do in the class session? Are you going to do a mini-lecture? Then prepare for approximately 30 minutes of content delivery. A mini-lecture is about 15-20 minutes in length. Why the difference between 15-20 and 30. You will find that time flies when you are lecturing the first few times. So you need to have twice as much content prepared as the time you have. Bring drama/acting into your lectures. Find ice breakers and activities that you can use in your classes. Students like variety. Be friendly and show your human side. This is how you develop respect with your students. Don't try to plan everything out for the entire course phase. Take your course outline and break it down into class sessions. Then plan out those sessions for about a two week span of time. This way you can make changes as needed in the course flow while still staying with your course outline.
Have fun with the course, your students and teaching. By being excited about the course content and working at developing rapport with the students you will do fine as a new instructor.
Gary
Hi David,
In reading your post it helped me confirm that as a new teacher I am on the right track with how to gain the respect and controll of my class. It is very important that as instructors we outline what the expectation our for our students. It will be the same requirement in the workplace so why not require the student to practice what is already a standard way.
This is my first time instructing. I want make a great first impression on the current instructor, as to my ability to teach the course. Can you advise me on some of the pit falls common to new instructors?
I'm new at teaching, also!! This is something that I have always wanted to do!!
I never doubt what I know, but how to present what I know and need to instruct.
Knowing that you have fear, gives a conscious awareness of caring and improvement!! Good luck to both of us! :)
Thanks, Dr. Meers,
I worked on it again today, and it isn't as difficult as I feared. -Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
Looking forward to hearing about how much success you have with your new class and the new software. My only suggestion for the first meeting is to try and stay in your comfort zone with the software. You have had some practice and experience with it so try and use the first meeting as an introduction to the class and the class to it it. Explain that they are fortunate to be able to be the first class to use this new software so it is going to be a learning experience for everyone using the software. You have the field experience and instructional knowledge as a teacher so you don't have to worry about explaining that your don't know the software forward and backward since you have the credentials needed to earn the respect and confidence of your students.
Gary
I'm also going to be teaching Medical Assisting this quarter for the 1st time. I have a lot of enthusiasm for the subject, and a lot of good ideas about how I want to present it. I'm just a little apprehensive about never having used this new software program before. They just got it installed in the classroom yesterday, so I got to practice on it a couple of hrs before they closed the campus, and they're going to let me work on it again tomorrow, but then I'm expected to teach my students on Monday as though I'm familiar with the new medical software. I'm afraid the students will see my discomfort level and lose confidence in my ability to teach them. No one on my campus has taught this system before, so I'm on my own. -Jeanne
I have found that being firm and consistant from the beginning works best but you must show your sudents that you are in charge and not them.
Dear Julie,
I, too, am a new instructor at at career institute where I am teaching in the Medical Assistant program. I have been a Medical Assistant since June 2000 and have always worked in the field of an Internal Medicine office. This is a whole new world for me. So far, the students as well as the faculy of the school have welcomed me with "open arms." I now have one week left of the first term I have taught, and the rapport I have built with these students has been positive, for I believed I may be too soft and be taken advantage of by the students. Fortunately, the students have been excellent so far. I still work in the field part-time to keep up on the changes in the medical field to bring the outside world into the classroom. Good luck to you.
Hi David,
Good example of how an instructor can "read" the situation and make adjustments as they are needed. While this is going on then you become more comfortable with your instructional style and professional persona.
Gary
I agree, covering the syllabus, outlines, requirements and policies of the course in the very first session helps set the stage in general. When I started out I was fairly strict and "by the book." I realized over time that this impeded interaction to some degree (as some students may have found me unapproachable - mistakenly of course).
Gradually I was able to modify my style so that students felt more comfortable conversing with me. However, the change was subtle enough that the 'new' approach didn't seem inconsistent with my personality - in fact I was being a bit more "me". You have to strike a balance; have confidence in yourself and our abilities.
Hi Deborah,
Way to bring balance to the instructional process. By having your students respecting you from the beginning of the class you are able to set the stage for success from the very beginning.
Gary
Hi Julie,
Be consistent! Have a well developed syllabus that outlines the expectations, requirements and polices of the course. Communicate these to your students at the beginning of the course and then hold to them. Also, have a grading rubric. This way you can show your students how they earned the points they did and in what categories. Listen to your students but make sure that they know you are in charge of the learning environment. Work to earn their respect and develop rapport with them and you will be a great position as an educator.
Gary
Hide your soft touch and be firm. I am also new and not so soft and I have a reputation as the second leg instructor. My first leg instructor is soft and the students know it and take advantage of it. There I have to take the fall as the mean or strick instructor which earns me respect from the start
