Like this. I have recently added tutorial time to labs. In all the labs where I facilitate a tutorial for a new and fun skill that I learn with them, I have a full room.
Thinking of a new sharing technique for next quarter: A field journal. Not just a journal where the students have to write, that may not engage them in the way I hope.
As a graphic designer, I collect things that inspire me, ideas for new artwork, and doodles for upcoming freelance projects. I usually keep those things in a basket in my home office.
I bought a field journal (fancy for notebook) and I'm going to assemble my clippings/keepings in it as if it's an observation on my immediate creative surroundings, much like a bird watcher would document his thoughts or tape samples and pictures in a field journal.
The idea is to bring this to class every week, first introducing them to what I want to share, then discussing my latest findings or even using something as subject matter for a project. I will suggest they keep a journal in a spiral notebook (cheap & accessible) but not put a point value to it. Just hoping the interest/excitement of sharing for a few minutes each week will encourage them to do the same. It can lead to a great sourcebook for them to rely on when they have a project or deadling looming, making the experience more pleasant, and potentially increase learning. So, the sharing of the field journal(s) becomes ALL of our facilitators.
It is very difficult to stay on top of it all. I try to read professional periodicals and newspapers and attend seminars to keep up with the lastest information in the courses that I teach.
These online courses have been very helpful with presenting various teaching styles, methods of presenting and evaluating information and dealing with particular student/classroom situations.
By putting all of these resources together, it actually helps balance time more effectively - makes me a better learning facilitator.
I try to use several different outside resources to continue to learn about the topic I teach. The association that I am certified through offers ongoing educational opportunities, my school offers ongoing training for their instructors as well, to help develop stronger skills in the classroom.
I find myself constantly looking to my students for feedback and continually modifying my program to better meet the needs of my students. I use my daily job and my students and peers to help me keep abreast of topics.
Loving what I teaach makes it easy to be interested in new information.
I certainly look forward to teaching in the near future. In the mean time, spending time observing, taking notes and speaking with fellow instructors have been helpful.
Yes taking the time to learn is essential for the teacher and the learner. If we can get the student get excited by outr excitment we all win.
I so agree with this, you have to keep up on the subject and be excited about it. Your excitement will excite others.
I also wanted to add that students have a world of knowledge and by not letting them share it we, the class and the instructor really miss out. I am so glad the in my class room we have much communication all the time and that we treat each other all with respect and as leqarners and teachers.
I feel learning and teaching are all combined via two way communivcation
I am all ways taking courses to keep up with new material amd be able to share that with my students. I also allow student s to share their experiances with the class so that we all learn. I really think that by letting the studdent take part ownership in the class that they are far more excited and open to learning.
I think the need to learn more about the topics is key, but with the understanding that I can't know everything. Developing new ways of teaching will also be very important, especially so if the students don't seem to be understanding the material I'm trying to teach them.
When I am prepping for a topic or lesson, I use the textbook and other resources to refresh or add to my knowledge of the subject matter. I also use the internet and educational resources to think and plan for ways to deliver the material in a different way and hopefully enhance the learning process.
Later next year I will be teaching in an accelerated program and I am looking for ways to balance the time element. I am thinking about using course management systems that might be available to my school to house the quizzes, learning activities, tests and assignments. I have used a course management system in a hybrid format with a traditional class and it worked well.
Learning more about the subject you teach is a constant and ongoing growth of yourself. If you don't continue to learn, your lecture and teaching ability becomes as a dusty old book that no one reads anymore because it is out of date. The more you learn about your topic keeps you fresh and energized. It keeps your topic fun to you. This in turn will be reflected in your presentation to your students. It doesn't have to be much. New factoids, how things started, experiments that led to the conclusions you now present and where it may lead in the future. It wasn't always the brainiest that started technology, accidents and someone saying can I expand or use that accident. Students love mistakes that lead to something useful because they think, "Even I make mistakes, can they be useful, what can they lead to?" Isn't this what being an instructor really is, guiding a student to use their brain (dream)?
I try to take things in small chunks. I know myself well enough that I often put off projects because I feel whatever I need to do will take too long. To work around this I have learned to break tasks into smaller subtasks. As long as I begin early enough, I have the time to work on a project for 30 minutes or so then move onto something else. Over time, I complete the task with less stress. My approach in the classroom is to try just one new process at a time. By observing the students' reaction I can determine if it is something that should continue or be dismissed. I take the same approach to learning more about my topics. I take in small bits of information over a long period of time to gradually increase my knowledge base.
Hi Paula!
Role modeling a love of life long learning is one of the best things that we can give our students.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I enjoy learning daily. Continuous interaction with the students affords lots of opportunities to learn something new daily that I can apply in future classes.
My situation is probably not unique. I find that students coming from the field often have more current information (I teach in a military environment) and I try to get their input on what they see that is different from what I'm presenting or conversely how does it still apply (some principles are enduring). Thsi helps to keep me more current for my next class.
Deliberately scheduling time to research and develop personal understanding and to attend/observe other learning events, instructors, and different classroom settings.
I agree. The more you know and feel comfortable with subject matter the easier it is to fashion the presentation to best suit the current students.
