developing as an instructor
what are ways to improve yourself if you are a new teacher?
Hi Noren,
You need to maintain the standard that is expected of the students when they complete the course. There are many ways that you can provide support to students to help them reach that level. By offering alternative ways to learn the material like "guided notes" you are helping students to acquire the knowledge while helping them to advance their academic skills. You can't fix all of their academic issues in your one course but you can help them to be successful while enrolled in it. That is if they are willing to put forth the effort and are not just coasting through the course.
Gary
When as a teacher, do you adjust the level of the subject matter to fit the class that you have to teach? In other words, do you dumb down the curriculum in order for the students to effectively learn what is presented or do you feel that that is against your teaching code?
Hi Shawn,
Welcome to the profession of teaching. I hope you have a successful and rewarding career for many years to come. Be comfortable and be yourself and your instructional style will emerge. Be willing to learn, have a professional development plan for yourself and have fun being a teacher. You are going to do great.
Gary
I am about to begin as an Automotive instructor and have no previous relative teaching experiance. I have been sitting in classes watching an instructor that is teaching the same exact class I will be lecturing on. This has helped me understand that I need to develop my own instructional style, but at the same time I will have to model his style till I can grow on my own.
Hi Nicole,
Thank you for the comments about how helpful talking with others and sharing can really be for instructors. Also, thanks for the website listing. This will be helpful to all of us.
Gary
As a new instructor, I've found that it is helpful to observe instructors teaching in a similar class or field. I also am fond of picking other instructor's brains on instructional ideas and suggestions that would be helpful for you and students. For example, I teach marketing courses and social media has exploded within recent years. Colleagues of mine would send links and current information (on marketing and instructional advice) to each other via email. It was a nice way to share helpful suggestions and current industry information.
A website I've found helpful is the Chronicle of Higher Education
http://chronicle.com/topic/Teaching/101/.
I believe that I ALWAYS have room for improvement. I have learned in the time I have been an instructor that each class is different... what works for one class may have to be adjusted in another. Rigid lesson planning and teaching styles seems to leave no room to grow. I try and learn from each class I teach... I listen to my students and look for ways to improve my methods and delivery. It makes each quarter a little different and keeps me on my toes!!
Hi Michael,
Talk to experienced instructors. Pick their brains every chance you get, ask them questions, have them observe in class. All these efforts will help you to become a better instructor.
Read all you can about how to improve as an instructor. Take courses that will give you more content and information about instructional delivery.
Combined the above items will position you to develop into a teacher of merit.
Gary
Keep myself open for any new learning experiences. Read testimonials of other teachers who have been teaching for a while.
Collaborate with seasoned teachers.
