That is very difficult to do but as a Business Educator everything is always changing; listening to the news, reading the newspapers, observing the methods of other professors are all simple little activities that can be done and does not consume too much time to learn different ways to teach and different styles to teach.
David,
that is great that you are working on stretching your skills in this way.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I am currently working on receiving certification from an established and recognized professional organization in my career field, which is education. While I teach in a skills-based educational environment, my first and primary role is as an instructor, not a chef, a med tech, a designer, or any other of the adult career education paths.
Dennis,
I agree & I would say this is true in the vast majority (if not all) of our fields.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Nelia,
you are right that our own preparation is key to running an effective classroom.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I learn more about the topics I teach by going to seminars and read up on my journals. And I come up with new ways of teaching is by listening to my students.
The learner becomes the learnee.
Because the automotive field is constantly changing, and the culture of the student body is evolving, so must the facilitator.
It is necessary to change with the students, and change with the times.
Time management is very important in planning every activity. I will set some time for my own learning process by keeping up to date through various ways. Preparation is likewise very important in developing new ways of teaching. When I am properly equipped with knowledge and skills then I can handle my class smoothly.
Craig,
this is a great strategy & probably can provide some great in the moment case studies as well.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Jodi,
that's great to be able to be side by side with your students in the field & grow alongside them.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Donna,
you are right that the more interactive our environments are, the more the student will probably learn.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Since I teach a strategic management class, I listen to the major business programs on TV and radio, and note any key points that are discussed about topics in class or about one of the companies that a student works for.
I also attend conferences and seminars on topics relating to coursework I teach. These forums let me share new information with the students, and provide a platform for interactive discussions.
I am lucky that I am also able to visit my surgical tech students in the OR environment, so I do get to see new surgical implants or instruments that are being used. Along with getting to be in the field direclty I read my associations website and magazine to learn about new advancements in the field too. When students are not picking up on a subject matter I have also learned to ask what they think will help them learn better and apply that to the classroom activities.
It is always important to keep up on as much information about the field your in. I found that students learn better when you don't stand in front of the class and lecture to show them how smart you are. Let the student be a part of their own learning. Explain things in everyday language. Let the student experience what they are learning. When I'm in class I try to use all learning styles, there is lecture, hands on, group discussion, and learning games. I found this works out well for my students.
Walter,
this is a great approach. And to add to the idea, just like a runner doesn't try to tackle a marathon the first day out, we have to get our "muscles" accustomed.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Rasiel,
I think this is a good & necessary approach for instructors; staying current in our field & developing instructional skills.
Dr. Ryan Meers
You know our classroom teaching has changed so much over the last 5 years. I find myself using a text to media marriage that encourages the students to interact and explore new ways of learning. For instance we have power points and handouts the white board and youtube With a little research in most cases you can find a high quality presentation that enhances the learning environment. This breaks up the learning styles. Some students look ahead and research the topics presented. These in class electronic researchers can add an even more robust component to the learning environment.
Hello, Everyday I am trying to learn more ways to teach the topics. the CEE's are very helpful in improving my teaching abailty. as the saying goes "never stop learning". I also use other Instructors to better my teaching seeing how someone else does things can be very useful to me. for me it is quite a balancing act to manage my time from classroom to training to teaching
I get the students sharing new technology news. I will tell about something new I saw or read about and it will usually turn into others sharing what they saw. I learn from the students what they find important and will do research in that area for the next day or maybe after the next break.
One of the appraoches my collegues and I use is something we refer to as, gradual migration. when it comes to new ways of teaching I am constantly striving to improve the learning environment; by topic, technique, and time. However, Just like a trapeeze artist wouldn't attempt a triple summersault without working up to it, I wouldn't attempt it with respect to my lessons either. That is almost a guarantee to land flat on my face. I have found that setting course goals, developing the lesson and researching the material works very well. Bottomline, it all boils down to practice.
