I love to learn more from my colleagues. We enjoy attending each other's classes occasionally or reviewing our exams and homework assignments. Often times it allows us to fill in gaps with our own assignments to create a more robust curriculum for our students. Aside from colleagues, I feel it's important to stay current with the world and your field. As time passes, things change all the time! You need to be reading the news, articles, papers, etc so when your students come to you with questions, you're ready with an answer.
As a online facilitator, I constantly research my topics to gain new insight about the topic. Reading and reviwing current information gives me clarity on the suject taht is being discussed. It enables me to hold meaningful discussion on the topic with my group and helps me to answer their question with a sense of knowing. Knowing the topic also enables me to give clarity to by group according to their level of understanding for the subject.
I think continuing education is key in not only keeping up with current ideas and innovation in the field but also with encouraging new teaching techniques. Feedback from the students is essential in understanding what methods work for the individual and the group.
Prairie,
this is a great example of being in tune with our own areas for improvement. It is especially important in these type of classes given that we have to be the example in communication & writing.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
There are two classes that I have taught repeatedly: one is a composition class; the other a communications class. Having the opportunity to teach these classes repeatedly has allowed me to see where and when there are "holes" in my instruction, or in the flow of information in general. In revising that part of the class for the next class, I try to ask myself: is it because of something I didn't know, or is it because of the way I'm presenting and sharing the information? If it's the first one, then I know I need to learn more about the topic. I can feel in myself if I'm not as confident presenting something to the students, and this is my indication that I need to learn more. If, however, I feel good about the information I'm presenting, but the students aren't relating to it or engaging with it, then I realize the imbalance lies with the way I'm teaching the topic. When this happens, I go back to the drawing board and reassess what the activities or discussions consisted of, and consider how I can restructure them to engage more students.
I think perhaps the driving force for the need to develop new ways of teaching, of keeping the classroom productive and students engaged in learning is fueled by the need to learn more about the subjects I teach and the students to which I teach. This fuller engagement is motivated by the desire to help my students experience and succeed. I know if I have helped my students to learn then I have learned. I think achieving balance between being flexible and structured is measured in great order by the positive learning experiences of my students. I find the experience in achieving this balance to be exhilarating and refreshing. Also, a challenge!
I keep up to date on the various websites, especially CMS as things change daily within the medical billing and coding field.
I also listen to students who are currently working in the field as to what they are encountering/learning daily on their job.
Faylee,
the peer observations & evaluations provide a wonderful opportunity for us to learn from each other.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Travis,
I think this is a great strategy as it keeps you engaged with the world & helps the students see the applicability.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Learning teaching methods and habits from other instructors or from past teachers is how I adopted the way i teach my students.
I constantly look for current events that apply to what I am teaching and incorporate them into my lectures.
Shawna,
these are all great ways to stay fresh in the field & in teaching. I too like to use games/simulations as I've found that often I have to know the info better to design these than just lecturing.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I try to keep up with new developments in the classes i teach. I think it helps to keep my class content organized.
I have learned so much more from my classes than I have taught,each class brings its on culture and we learn the material in a timely and meaningful way. I bring in community members to help facilitate the learning and I usually learn something new each time.
First I focus my needing to learn my topics by studying the information and trying to make games and activities that will best keep my students interest. This helps me to make creative teaching and better use of class time.
Second I train with this online and work with my faculty on ideas to focus more on developing new ways of teaching.
Third I take classes myself so that I am the student and can feel what works and what doesn't in my enviroments and instructor's teaching styles.
I teach in culinary and it makes it easy. We all have to eat and when there is a new recipe or a different technique that I want to show. I will research it. Find a different recipe, video or product. Then I will make the item for dinner for myself and family, take alot of pictures and even bring in the leftovers to share. Then the next day in class I will talk about it and then I will incorpate it into the class. It then turns around and they do the same. They research a new technique, take pictures and show me what they had for dinner the night before. Its alot of fun!
As an automotive instructor, I am faced with any new technologies that creep up almost daily. Before I was an instructor I was a technician and had a great interest in the field. As I migrated into an instructor that interest has turned into a passion. I am constantly reading, taking online courses, and going to the manufacturer to learn and expand my horizons. This helps me greatly in the classroom.
I spend as much time as I can continuing to learn more about what I teach in the classroom. I read, I try new recipes and then I take what works and doesn't work and share it with my students during downtime when I run out of things to talk about or during class breaks.
I try to review ever chapter I teach and use the internet to find the answers to my questions. Which in turn has given me new information and new sources to pass on to my students. I also utilize these lessons and professional trade classes to further my experiences for instructing.
Rita,
this is very true & I've found that the more I teach a subject, the more I learn about it.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
