I think the segment with Harvard Professor DeLong really resonated with me. He pointed out that the goal of an instructor is to be respected and to do things well. But to reach that point, we need to make mistakes and do things poorly. Not deliberately, of course. But I've been teaching for over 20 years and have become a better instructor by being aware of the things students let me know I could have done better. Ultimately, it's important to be yourself yet be open to changing, if it helps you to connect better with your students.
Hi Stephen,
Note taking is an excellent way to determine what works and what does not work. Notes serves as a great reference tool when changes need to come about.
Patricia Scales
I have been taking notes. This helps tremendously, both with the presentation of specific materials from class to class, and with class management from session to session. Unfortunately, the sequence will always be such that the mistake occurs before awareness and correction. :-)
By asking questions to assess the students understanding. Early on I used to assume that my class understood the lesson by their lack of questions, but it is more effective to assess their understanding by asking them pertinent questions.
Just being prepared for class makes a huge difference for me. Knowing ahead of time what we are covering that day gives me the confidence to present my lessons effectively. I like the new syllabus we have created because it makes you look ahead 6 weeks and to get yourself mentally prepared to cover the material in that term. I love the idea of over preparing and then loosing some of the time to the Bermuda Triangle of teaching, hilarious!!
It is amazing... Each class always brings something different. It is different students, attitudes, or learning experiences... it is great. I have to admit, it is never the same. Good luck to you in your teaching career.
I love what your grandfather said. Thank you for sharing that with us.
I agree with him. If you don’t have a goal in life how do you know where you are going. Nice post..
In my experience, some common instructor mistakes can be avoided by over preparing and being ready for anything. I began teaching strategies for success course approximately 1 year ago. I read the instructor book inside and out. I went over my power point slides and quizzes. I felt confident and I felt as if I was ready. No, I was wrong. I had the material down and I knew all the information being presented. However, what I didn’t get was the student interaction. I was losing the entire class. I sounded like a robot. One student stopped me and asked me to give a personal example of visualization… I had to stop and think of a time that I visualized something that would relate to the course. I had to laugh and tell them, “Okay, give me a minuetâ€. I realized life will throw you a curve ball at any time. We all laughed and I gave a great example. From that day on, I was open to being ready for anything. Instructors at times forget that their students are human too. We all need to take a break and laugh once and a while.
Hi David,
I love it! This is worth memorizing and revisiting.
Patricia Scales
Hi Darcey,
You live and learn! Preparation is a must. It is always nice to have extra.
Patricia Scales
My fourth grade teacher taught us a poem:
Good, better, best - never let it rest.
Until your good is better - and your better best.
That was over 50 years ago and I still fine it worthwhile to keep in mind.
As a new instructor myself, I find that preparation is key. Having an outline and notes is key. But one time we had finished all of our work very early and I did not have anything else prepared to work on. Being new I mentally stumbled as to what to do next. I totally lost the class to chatter and them doing their own thing. It was a challenge to get their attention back. Now I always have 4 to 5 items lined up if this is to occur again.
Hi Gordon,
I have a class that does not involve any tests/quizzes, only assignments and quizzes, and students say pressure is released do to not having the high-pressured tests/quzzes, although there is a lot of work in the class.
Patricia Scales
Hi Cheryl,
I always let my students know that you do not have to be a product of your environment. Striving is key! Most of my students are diamonds in the rough, and most of them end up shining real BRIGHT!!
Patricia Scales
By applying lessons learned from other instructors I’ve came up with a plan that should work for my next class a pure research new technology class with no text book. No quizzes midterm or final test is going to be a new adventure for me as my grading is going to base on papers and how the information is researched and presented. My roll of instructor is more of facilitator of the learning experience by giving student lose reins and see what comes up with in guidelines set the first day of class. By applying lessons learned from this class to other class should improve the student experience for future classes.
I completely agree with you. I think this not only applies to the classroom environment but also everyday life. Everyone has different experiences and it affects how they behave. For example, both of my parents graduated from college but I often wonder how my educational experience would have been different if they did not?
Hi Jennifer,
I have been teaching for more than 23 years, and I am still learning. Teaching is a profession that will always be considered work in progress.
Patricia Scales
There is always room to learn more.
relying on our co-workers and fellow instructors. performing a serious self analysis on a daily bases in order to make sure that correct any mistakes and improve in any area necessary.
I thin all the instructors are making mistakes. The new instructor thinks that bonding with students will gurantee them best evaluation, soon they will find out how wrong they are.
