For an instructor to be successful they most have patience as their number one trait. Without patience in a classroom, it will never fucntion the way it should.
David, pausing is a great technique. I also tend to throw in a glance without uttering any words.
James Jackson
I agree with all of the comments others have made here. I also think having a sense of humor can be invaluable. It is often possible to get across a message of correcting a group of students who are talking or an individual who is being disruptive in a humorous manner so there is not the uncomfortable air at that moment.
Pausing if a student is talking during lecture is one of the best ways to get the student(s) to stop talking.
Effective instructors display expert knowledge of the subject, effective classroom planning and management, a proactive approach to minimizing disruptions, and a respectful attitude toward students. Students do respect instructors who demonstrate that they care about student learning, as evidenced in preparation and effective lesson planning, as well as treating students with dignity and respect.
Lori, preparation is key and a must for the true professional. Going into a classroom unprepared and without prior preparation is hypocritical with respect to what we as instructors expect from our students. Lack of preparation on the side of the student does not excuse an instructor from being fully prepared. Thanks for your comments and very well stated.
Regards,
James Jackson
Dana, thanks for sharing. Personal greetings and building a relationship early with your virtual students is key to overall success and retention.
Regards,
James Jackson
Successful instructors demonstrate all of those behaviors/attributes. Respect is earned in order to be given. Tact is very important in dealing with adult students, especially older students. Adult students want to be treated as adults.
Instructors need to be a positive and professional role model. Professionalism will always win out. The instructor will need to be respectful and available for each students needs.
Good classroom management involves being fully involved with the environment of the classroom - with the students, the materials, the course, and the program. When an instructor is fully involved, "management" per se is less of an issue, because the students are involved in the course and the learning process, and less involved with outside distractions. This leaves the instructor more time to truly teach, and helps the students to become fully involved in the learning process.
Hello Dorethea!
I agree with you 100%! There is nothing like having that positive interaction with your class. My grandmother was a teacher and she told me that you always have to make learning fun. Keep your class interested in the subject matter and motivated. The outcome is a great accomplishment! It's the best!!
In my view, a strong belief in preparation, professionalism and diplomacy are important traits. Being prepared in advance with knowledge of what to do in different circumstances can aid the instructor in planning responses for the various situations encountered in a classroom. In another view, the prepared instructor often has less problems with classroom management, because coming to class prepared to teach and for students to learn puts the instructor at a distinct advantage - students who are busy and engaged are much easier to manage in a classroom. Always being professional in word and deed will carry that forth. And engaging in diplomacy in terms of respectful behavior, tact and manners will also help in good classroom management.
Always be a role model to your students,treat them with respect.Be honest, you may not know it all and if you have any doubts about a subject, encourage them to investigate further and share this new knowledge with the rest of the class.Mix in a little humor
Hello Everyone,
As an online instructor it is important to always personally greet the person and continue to expand upon the thread with reflective questioning. As the instructor shares professional posts so will the students.
I think it is important that the instructor models exactly how he/she expects the students to carry themselves throughout the course. In an adult learning environment, professionalism often doesn’t need to be taught but simply just shown through the actions of the instructor. Adult students want to be in class and love to be able to add their input and be heard through class discussions. I believe a great trait an instructor can portray in an adult education environment is that of a facilitator and a guide rather then a preacher behind a podium. Letting the students teach each other and find the answers through multiple means will greatly expand their retention I believe. All the instructor then has to do is keep them on the right path to success.
attitude is first in line here, along with equality in the classroom. Be firm with the diapline of the rules and objectives of the class,Move about the room and observe the class as a whole and address a situation that may be disruptive to the rest of the class. This will earn you the respect you need to have a susessfull outcome at the end of the course. I find that most students like the disapline due to the fact that they are here to learn and do not want there experence tainted by an instructor that does not adhere to the policy that the students are required to abide by. Being a 'BUDDY' is not productive or professional and the student will sniff it ouit in a second and will try to get away with anything they can while others are paying the price for there unprofessionalism and bad instruction.
At the beginning of a term, I tell my students that we all learn from each other and I encourage them to share experiences that they have that is related to the material. Sometimes, the stories that they tell may not relate or poorly retold. During these times, I practice my 'active listening' techniques (proper eye contact, etc) and quickly and hopefully, tactfully bring the conversation back to topic. Through this behavior, I hope I am modeling to my students how to respond appropriately to others.
Sheila, you have provided some great comments here. I really agree with the comment on emotional responses. Once an instructor allows emotion to be their guide, there is almost no return and can result in no redemption. Never take a classroom issue personal. That being said, this is not to say that instructors are to be insensitive or uncaring. Instructors have to have think skin but be willing to show their care for their students on a thin slate. Students need to know you care but should never be given the power to overtake your authority.
Regards,
James Jackson
Neal, you are so correct. The power of eye contact is incredible and probably a lost art form. There is also power is a brief period of silence when someone disrupts the class. A great instructor will be able to get a class back on track quickly with simply a well placed pause and some eye contact. No words need to be spoken.
Regards,
James Jackson
Flexibility, calmness, organization. Clear cut expectations regarding class conduct and outcomes; fair, consistent, respectful discipline, and the very difficulty ability (which I am still trying to perfect) of disengaging from emotional responses to student issues/behaviors. Students must be encouraged to "own" their education, to be responsible for the outcome of their choices; my job as instructor is to assist without judgement. Successful instructors are able to point the way to "the big picture", expand horizons that point to a positive future.
S. Hartford
