Lee,
I have had those experiences of short preparation time as well and they generally do not work out very well. I agree with the stress factor too.
Kurt
The more time you have to plan and gather information from numerous sources you can present more information to the students in a clear, concise manner. Many times I have had to put something together at the last minute and it always works out but the amount of stress it places on the instructor is tremendous. I have become more comfortable in this situation as I have gained experience but nothing can compare to having the time to thoroughly and effectively put together instructional material. When given the time to plan and gather information, I am much more effective in my instruction and things flow more smoothly.
Eva,
I agree. If you walk into class (or log into class as I do) and students see an ill-prepared instructor, their faith in the class goes out the window. The students will begin to doubt your abilities and the information you present, and this is a hard obstacle to overcome. It is our responsibility to gain and maintain student trust.
Kurt
Early planning is important for instructional success because it shows professionalism & organization to our students when we are well prepared for the course; not scrambeling to determing what are we going to teach.
Gary,
Thanks for the tips. I taught on-ground at Iowa State University for several years and I do know the preparation for those types of classes is a little different than online classes that are not always live. I do think that preparation of the notes is still a good idea and I use PP myself for preparation of the class overall. This helps me prepare for the kinds of issues I know will occur, and I can then post responses as slides in the online classroom to common questions.
Kurt
Hi Kurt,
My preparation is based upon the topics I am going to cover that night in class. Some topics have me thinking about how I will break up the class into work groups and do a case study and others have me thinking about the PP I will be using. When I use a PP I prepare for using the slides by thinking of examples or illustrations that can be used to reinforce what is on the screen. I refer to the points on the slide but I don't read them because the students can read them, themselves I want them to think about applications.
Also, in preparation I run down the different activities I am going to use. I refer to my notes from the previous class on how the activities went and what I need to do to make them even better.
I stop and reflect on how the last class session I had with this group of students went so I can mentally be ready for the different dynamics that are occurring in the course.
Students have to perform or work in three areas each time they come to class. They have to use their cognitive abilities(so I think about how much cognitive work we will be doing) social skills (I think about how much interaction will be required that session) and physical effort (some days it is mostly seat work and other days we are up and doing all kinds of physical things). So once I have reviewed the three (cognitive, social, physical) areas I look at my own preparedness, get my game face on and hit the classroom. Hope these ideas are of help to you. If you have any further questions let me know.
Gary
Gary,
Thanks for the feedback. Do you have any special ways you prepare for classes that I might add to my list?
Kurt
Hi Kurt,
Thank you for these points on instructional delivery. I can tell you have had extensive and varied experiences in teaching students of all kinds. By following the points you make a new instructor will be able to reflect a level of professionalism that will serve as a model to students.
Gary
I have been teaching online for many years and I have strong feelings about this topic. I teach online, and the schools I am associated with expend a great deal of effort to design the learning experience for the students to maximize student success. Because of the school planning, there are many details to take care of. If instructors do not also plan carefully, the efforts from the schools will not come to fruition and the students will suffer.
Another important point is the demonstration of professionalism we convey to the students. If we are prepared, the students will gain confidence in our instructional abilities and the course. It is difficult for students to work in the online environment because they do not see a physical classroom and the instructor. The materials and organization of the classroom will help offset this deficit.
My final, and perhaps most important point, is that the instructional process is a complicated one. Conveying knowledge to the students involves a lot more than just putting the information in front of them and expecting them to learn. Classes must be carefully prepared to take advantage of various learning styles and must work toward the objectives that were designed for the course. These learning objectives are part of more comprehensive goals for the curriculum and each course plays an important role.
Kurt
Early and comprehensive planning allows the instructor to be more relaxed and appear competent. If the students have confidence in their instructor they have more confidence in their ability to succeed. If an instructor arrives late or is poorly prepared this increases the anxiety level of the students. Planning the lecture in advance allows it to flow easily. Instructors who are prepared in advance do not read lectures to students.
i am in the same boat as renee.a lot of our content needs looked at. each day i prepair myself by looking over the materail.i do this to make sure i know the topic to the best of my ability. i also like to look at the material to fix typos and such mistakes. it takes some extra time to do, but itd worth it
It is so important to be prepared. Students are like a barameter, they know when we are prepared and when we are not. I am teaching a new class this quarter and I was not sure of what I could take out of the course or even change. There are typo's in content and quizzes, there is conflicting information in the course, and believe me, if I get this course again next quarter, I will make sure it is perfect. The more prepared I am the better the course will be!
Renee Bipes
Hi Diana,
What advice would you give a new instructor in terms of the best way(s) of getting organized?
Gary
early planning puts less stress on yourself. you can easliy focus on your students. you as an instructor look prepared and professional. smooth operations of your class
Organization can facilitate a smooth class entry and increase instructor credibility.
Knowing the subject matter and planning the structure of the class content allows me to freely participate with the class and make the lecture seem more like a conversation.
Planning ahead allows the istructor/ facilitator to adjust and modify the class to meet the students' styles and needs. It challenges the instructor to not "fall into" doing the class the same way every class or quarter/ semester. It also keeps one on task and progressing. Students are very good at digressing and birdwalking. If the instructor has thought the lesson out, and knows their students, they are better able to bring the class back and moving forward.
Early planning will gurantee overall success of the course. It is also important in delivering the course material effeciently.
Hi Martha,
Good strategies for professional development. It has be constant because one thing about teaching it does not remain static so comprehensive planning is a must.
Gary
Early and comprehensive planning is important for instructional success because an instructor is able to create a roadmap for the term. The roadmap can help the instructor to "stay on track" and "see" where adjustments can be made in the delivery of course material to ensure all learning objectives are successfully met. Early planning also gives instructors an idea of where they might pick up some professional development to help with course delivery. I, of course, would recommend CEE!
