Peggy,
Student centered instruction is what we should be about. You have illustrated that through your comments about being an outstanding educator.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Dr. Meers the way that I could expand my instructional abilities is by attending professional developement course, subscribing to professional associations, and taking online courses for professional developement.
Thank you Dr. Meers.
Despite the subject matter, unlike persons of later stages of development (adult/older adult), younger learners (18 years to 22 years)seem to be easily distracted. How interesting would be the learning environment if cell phones (and the like) were not allowed in the classroom.
I like the statement under manager in the teaching process. Basically, making sure that everything and everyone come together at the point where learning needs to occur! An instructor is only as good as their willness to think ahead and problem solve on their feet. Engaging your students in this process of learning; to me; begins with plain and concise communication and respect for each other. Learning more about human behavior in general, can widen an intructors abilities to teach.
I can expand Instructional Abilities by continuing with my professional developement and further researching changing trends in the learning process. I also keep up with cultural trends to meet the needs of our diverse society.
Richard,
Based upon the expressed interest in lesson planning from instructors like yourself I just completed writing a course on this topic. It is ED 109. Look the course over and if you have a chance work through it. It will give you a plan for planning your lessons and engaging your students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I would look for any opportunities to learn about myself and identify the areas I need improvement in. For example, I would take classes in teaching at the community college level, enroll in CEU courses through my place of employment. I could also shadow an instructor that had demonstrated skills I could learn from, develope a self-assessment tool that I could use to determine areas of weakness, and basically become more focused on the process of teaching.
I would be interested in information ere lesson planning experiences and recommendations.
Jeanne,
You have a good list of professional development activities laid out here. Something you might want to try is to video yourself teaching. You may be surprised when you review the tape but I have found that you get valuable feedback from watching yourself present and interact with students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
JoAnn,
This is a common theme for the MA programs I have observed. Instructors in these programs need to develop a wide variety of strategies that will keep the students engaged and focused on their knowledge and skill development.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Further your education by taking online courses or attending a class, observing other instructors, reading about it, researching it on your own. Observe what works and what doesn't work in your own classroom. Ask students and colleagues for feedback and use it to improve. Keep yourself organized. Anything else you would suggest?
In the courses I facilitate, learners are preparing for careers in medical assisting (MA)or medical billing, and coding (MBC).
My experience is that MA students tend to be more interested in the hands on approach to learning clinical procedures.
Expanding my instructional abilities relate to the preparation time required for facilitating courses wherein the majority of learners are enrolled in the MA program. I have found that keeping the MAs engaged during classroom activities require that assignments,projects, and handouts include both clinical and administrative (billing/coding)examples.
Brian,
Good list to follow in getting to know your students and getting them involved in the learning process.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
1. Answer, what's in it for them? How can your instruction try to meet that need?
2. What's their ulterior motive? Can you change styles to address this from a different angle?
3. Ask why? Can you expand on their answer differently?
4. Play devil's advocate and have them do the same.
Billie,
These types of professional development opportunities need to be taken advantage when available. They give us additional teaching tools to use.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
You can expand your instructional abilities by taking professional development courses.
Arthur,
When you achieve the balance between your technical skills and your instructional abilities you will find that teaching becomes more enjoyable and rewarding. You will see that you are conveying content to your students in a way that enables them to move toward their career goals. This is what teaching is about. I wish you much teaching success in the future.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Ray,
You sure do. These are resources that are there so use them as much as possible. This gives you more time to focus on student interaction and the development of rapport with them.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Being a new instructor I need to fine tune my personal development plan and place more weight on creating lesson plans and teaching students. I Believe having my instructing abilities on the same level as my technical abilities would make me a more confident and proficient instructor.
By being aware and utilizing all the teaching aids offered by your college or institution, you can signigicantly improve the effectiveness of your instruction as well as increasing student motivation. Supplementing your lecture with colorful powerpoint slide show or video followed by a hands-on lab session will peak the students' interest and result in a more effective learning environmemt.
