To expand your instructional abilities you first have to honestly examine your abilities as they are right now and set down both your attributes and shortcomings. Then have the willingness to improve your shortcomings. This can be accomplishes in several ways including taking courses, seminars and seeking guideance from fellow instructors at your school. We all need to continue to improve. Anyone who says he's the best of best and can not improve needs to look again. We are human and we can always make improvements in our instructional abilities
I'm not really sure if the word "your" relates to me personally or to the general person, so I'm going to apply it to me. I'd rather speak for myself anyway, rather than yammer on about things of which I'm unaware.
For me personally, I have begun by studying the writings of Dr. Richard Felder from the University of North Carolina. He regularly promotes the concept of active and cooperative learning in the classroom.
This is key because what makes an instructor from someone who is knowledgeable is the ability to convert highly technical or specialized information into a format that is discernable by the uninitiated or novice.
Active learning invokes more than just putting out information - the skill of the instructor is to bring students into part of the learning process, rather than preaching at them or dolling out information. This is especially important for me because I have a tendency to lecture long.
This is how I'm expanding my instructional ability.
-R
Chip,
I think you have put together a very good professional development plan for yourself. I wish you continued teaching success as you work through these different activities and increase your instructional expertise.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I can seek out career college workshops and continuing education opportunities. I would aim to do one every other month. I can also read books and follow teaching websites. This program with Maxknowledge is also a great tool.
Chip
Godwin,
Good strategies to follow to expand your instructional expertise and knowledge. The more methods we know about the more variety we can bring to our classes.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
It is important we continue to strive to improve not just our instructional abilities but every aspect of our life. There are several ways we could expand our instructional abilities such as practicing what we preach and by doing this, it becomes a part of us. We could also attend training events/update courses so that we are informed of new developments and strategies. Keep up-to-date on web accessibility is also very important.
Pamela,
You make a good point about asking for help. Talking with others can gain you so much information and valuable strategies to use in your own teaching.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
A way to expand our instructional ablilites is to not be afraid to ask for help if needed. I think that some view asking for help as a sign of weakness. Actually,this is a way to expand our teaching abilities. Instructors can learn so much from each other by finding out what each others strenghts are and learning from each other. If everyone works as a team, then these abilities will always expand. Learning is something that never ends.
Ann,
A list can be help to keep you focused on getting everything together and ready for the class session. With my list I get everything together and then scan it one more time to make sure I have everything I need and knowing this helps me approach the classroom with more confidence.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I think working on organizational management in the classroom would help me expand. I do not write things down but I do keep lists in my head. I realize this can be a recipe for missing someithing important that needs to be addressed.
Renee,
This is a very good approach to instructional planning. As you expand your expertise as an instructor you are using a great resource and this is the experience that each student brings to the class. I wish you much teaching success.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Class participation is a must. Every student has a viable and important experience that can be shared, given it relates to the topic at hand, and that experience is something others can learn from, including myself. I like to encourage my students to share their knowledge/experiences so that the rest of the class can benefit from it. I am brand new to the teaching industry so it helps me to better understand how much knowledge they have when they share their experiences. This helps me to make the proper adjustments to my curriculum.
I liked the video tape idea.I am sure it would show a lot of areas for improvement.
Peter,
Great to hear about your professional development efforts. Keep looking for ways to gain new insight and information about how to expand your instructional expertise. Welcome to a wonderful profession and I wish you much success in your classes and with your students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
As a first time instructor, taking classes like this one are truly enlightening and necessary for evaluating and assessing my skills and how I need to develop them further. So, participating in this and other development classes and observing my colleagues' classes are on my current to-do list to help me out at this point.
Garrett,
Classes and observations of other instructors are two good ways to expand one's professional expertise and an educator. Keep looking for additional ways to develop your instructional delivery abilities and your growth will be ongoing.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I believe classes would be the most benefical and complete way to expand ones instrutional abilities. This is due to the increased number of options to practice and learn. You have peers and others to interact with to better develop your ideas and abilites.
Michelle,
I agree and I find that having an open mind for learning is a fun part of being a teacher. No matter how many times I have taught a course I learn a lot of new things each time I teach it.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I think that going into the situation with an open mind is important. I am knowledgeable about my subject but I certainly don't know everything so I am always open to learning something new.
Aisha,
I am excited about the opportunities for learning you are offering your students. The tell, show, do model really helps students to see application and relevancy to what they are learning. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
