Common Instructor Mistakes
I am so glad I took this course. It let me know that I was doing things correctly instinctualy. My first class I made the mistake of telling my students that this was my first time instructing; but I followed up with how much experience I have in the field and how I would incorperate a fresh view of the professional aspect of there chosen career. I also laughed and told them that I would have to relearn some of the information again along with them. My students were wonderful, all graduated, and all thought I was a great instructor. However I feel I could have given more.
Hi Jered,
I like how you use yourself first to generate humor and as relationships are built you involve your students with the humor. You never know if a student is sensitive or not.
Patricia Scales
I also really enjoyed this course. Mistakes are to me the best learning tools I've experienced personally and that I've witnessed impact the learning curve of my students. In fact, it is a well-processed, constructively criticized, and well-remediated mistaken lab that teaches my students the most. So, whether I make the mistake or they do, creating a feedback rich environment of professional problem-solving rather than blame-shifting is my pedagogical goal.
I really appreciated the advice to approach the mistakes made with humor. India started a phenomena called Laughter Clubs, in which folk gather to laugh and smile together for the physiological benefits of humor (anti-depression, increased sociality, decreased pain, increased parasympathetic function). I've picked up in my learning that the Parasympathetic impact of humor actually opens up different cognitive capacities and de-escalates reflexive defense responses. So, I am constantly making light of first myself and then students as their class comfort and rapport increases.
Hi Joseph,
As a new instructor there is a lot to learn. It sounds like you did really well the first go round. You are only going to get better because you have the right attitude.
Patricia Scales
