Proper planning will enable the instructor to relax and focus on relating information and engaging students and not on what should come next.
Hi Alison,
Good plan for keeping the key goal in mind while providing the supporting information that students needs have.
Gary
I require a clear path to meeting my instructional goals for each class. If that is in place, I am more organized, less likely to miss important points, and less likely to get "off message". In order to make an instructional period flow, I need to have a unified theme so that the main objectives are consistently applied and emphasized.
Hi Jeff,
You are right about the planning part. It is essential for success. Also you make a good point about being the role model for students through your planning. You give them a standard from which they can operate as they develop their career skills.
Gary
Proper planning prevent poor performance...
Proper planning will allow you to be comfortable with the material that you are teaching which, in turn, allows you to look like a professional in front of your class because you will be prepared and ready. You also will be a role model for students to follow.
Planning is important to any endeavor of importance. When entering a new class for the first time, it is important that the students see you as a Subject Matter Expert in the course area. A lack of organization or direction will not inspire confidence in your students that they have made a wise investment in time and money in taking your course. If you do not have ready answers for their questions on both the course and the institution, then their expectation for the course is usually diminished. This can lead to loss of control during instruction, unmotivated students, and a failure to achieve the course objectives.
Hi Mark,
Good point. I to teach in a multi-level system and sometimes just getting a classroom that is appropriate is difficult. Due to a central office mistake,this phase I am teaching in the break room, where students and faculty come to warm up their food in the microwave. I only have a overhead projector as my media. I haven't used one of these for years. I can assure you that it will not happen again because my students have paid a lot of money to receive an education and they should have the very best. A side note is that I have a great bunch of students that are working very hard in the course in spite of all the challenges or maybe because of them and they are very happy with the content they are receiving.
Gary
Planning very early, I have learned is especially important when implementing a new curriculum.
Before the course is even scheduled, we must be sure that the room, the furniture, the computers, the supplies, the software, and the support staff are all in place.
These things often require the input from a number of decision-makers, especially in career colleges that have central, campus-level, and departmental-level decision makers.
Early and comprehensive planning is important for instructional success so that all planned learning objectives can be covered and all class activities will have a smooth flow to ensure these learning objectives are achieved.
I would agree with this. It seems that there are many demands on students and their time so having the course well planned is also being respectful of the student and their desire to learn what is being taught.
Hi Stephanie,
A poor or negative reputation can ruin an instructor in a school. Instructors need to strive to always be a professional as is possible so they serve as models to students and credits to the teaching profession.
Gary
Hi Michael,
It really helps to settle the students in when they feel confident about the instructor they have and that he/she is a professional dedicated to their learning.
Gary
In addition to fulfilling one's professional duties, another reason is students need to feel confident that their instructor is a competent professional. By planning carefully and completely, the instructor develops self confidence, and that in turn, will be demonstrated in their classroom demeanor.
Well it is important for the chef intructor to be prepared and organized for the class they will be teaching because if you are not it will show the students that the instructor is disorganized and not prepared. Which give the students a bad idea of what the school is all about and what they have been promissed to learn. It also give the student a chance to discredit the instructor and let the future students know what to expect.
To me, planning equals confidence in the class room. It also equals stimulating class activities and discussions. When I plan properly - I know that I have enough engaging activities that students will not becoem bored. This is exremely important in teaching computer skills - like Word and PowerPoint - because it is not always exciting and bored students can "check out".
An instructor must have a good educational plan fully developed prior to teaching a class. This plan should identify not only the syllabus, goals and objectives, and educational and support material, it should also identify the steps the instructor needs to take to maintain currency in the topic. All too often, instructors who were, at one time, experts in their field have lost their grasp on the more recent developments.
Early planning is critical for me as an instructor. By insuring that I’m familiar with course material, the current research, and the classroom setting, I can be more at ease and more human with the students. On days that I feel less prepared, the presentation of information and activities can sometimes miss the goal for that day, which is then reflected in student assessments. Knowing this about myself has only helped me to become a better-prepared instructor.
Hi Dr. Anderson,
Good point about the planning of a road trip. The students need to see the destination but enjoy the learning trip that goes along with it.
Gary
Early and comprehensive planning helps the professor decide which methods/techniques would be most effective in helping students grasp the desired skills. It also helps the professor provide a broad overview of the course on the first day of class so the students can see how each part of the class is linked together which results in the final educational goal of being highly proficient in the acquired skill, leading to passing the course and moving on to graduation.
Planning for class is similar to a using a road map to plan for a trip. If travelers know where they are going and what they are going to see, points of interest along the way can be appreciated more fully because of the advanced preparation and planning.
Hi Stacy,
By having a preset curriculum how do you make course corrections when you see the students going off course? Do you have any freedom to make modifications at all?
Thanks.
Gary
