That is great. The students I get are new to me and I need to establish that link. However, in the lab I teach I have many former students which makes it easier and more fun.
Well personally I like to tell the students about myself and let them be comfortable with talking to me. Also when I see blank stares on there faces, I like to put it into a way that they would use a term or have a way for them to comprehend it better. It works even better if I have a video or pictures that go in depth with what I'm teaching, I love seeing a students face when they get something its remarkable. :-)
Do you think there is anything that could help me better the way I teach?
Yes preparation is the key!
What i put in will only make me better and make it an excellent outcome for the students
I agree, preparation is very important!
Preparation is also key. But an instructor who is truly knowledgeable about their subject should always be prepared enough to teach a class.
The way you present yourself is probably one of the most important things you can do to gain the confidence of the class. And of course your knowledge and skill in the subject matter.
I enjoy the use of hypothetical situations to create a picture in the mind of my students.
Musharaf,
Can you expand on this?
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Barbara,
This is a good form of instructional planning. You are reflecting the content through the delivery format. Student success course content is different in scope and content than a more in-depth course like Dental Anatomy.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Gbolahan,
All of these learning strategies help to get the students to focus on the content and then retain the content in their memories. Acronyms also can be fun to create and make learning more enjoyable.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I agree. I believe students whom can relate the topic to a personal experience better understand and retain the information.
Preparation is the key to continually improving the quality of a course we deliver. I like to identify the core concepts and then enrich this foundation. For Sales Management, I've sent the students out in two's to observe and analyze a sales experience. For Global Marketing, we took in an IMAX film to see what this international corporation produced. Mastery of the course content sets the standard of competence for me and my students. I use a "course packet" as a resource for the core concepts - both for notes and review.
Preparation which includes hands on materials is the key to a successful outcome. Knowing the subject matter will reflect in the way it is deliver to the students.
Preparation to me is the key to a successful outcome. If I know the subject it will reflect in the way I deliver the subject matter.
Yes, if I do not already know the student I always ask about their educational backgrounds. Most of the students I teach I have had in previous classes and know them very well.
Do you ask about their educational backgrounds too? I find that this is also an important area to address because it gives me an idea how they might handle the assigned tasks.
I often read trade articles and/or attend trade shows due to the ever-changing state of our industry. I have found that it enhances my ability to converse on topics with the students and it helps to create and maintain an excitement about the subject matter. This excitement lends itself to both keeping students engaged as well as providing "real-world" opportunities to cite examples of the subject matter.
Explore how other instructors direct their classes and interact with students.
At the beginning of the class I ask the students about their work backgrounds and experience to be able to instruct them on the level of expertise they bring to the classroom. No one wants to be instructed on something they feel they already know, so knowing about their background I feel is enormously beneficial when developing lectures, etc.
It's true. I personally learned more from discussions and demonstrations than the lectures because student centered learning is more effective.
