In my experience, you need to set the stage on day one and be very clear about class expectations, if students need to raise their hands, being attentive in class and other policies. You can always lightemn your policies, but i have found if you start being 'too easy" you can't become harder or more strict about things. I am honest about needing the manage the class so everyone can learn and that my policies are for the good of the student who wants to learn. I have had some really challenging students over the years.. not a pleasant experience at times. it is important to look within in terms of how you might react to some students... there is often something else going on that may be making them angry and you are just the one who happened to be there when they reached their limit.
record or take notes, AAR after-action reviews, also this information will help you mentor other educators
It is okay to ask students for help. Just don't admit that you are new to teaching as that may hinder the compent imagine they have of you.
Feeling that you are not prepared adequately to teach the class. It is a good practice to over-prepare to compensate for this.
One of he biggest mistakes instructors make is thinking there is not room for improvement. The other one is, this is my classroom and I will do it my way. The biggest one I see is I will just wing it. All of these show an air of arrogance not suited for the classroom.
Being a new instructor can be daunting. When you realize that most of the "what if's" are not really there and will not really affect you it will be a much more enjoyable experience.
Instructors must show leadership at all times. Displaying respect and caring, competent attitude will avoid classroom conflict. Also being consistent and not a buddy to students will provide positive outcomes for the class.
Being organized plays a major role in also delivering the course material in a efficient manner. I think it also build confidence to an instructor who has never taught before. As an instructor I have to stay organized because it helps me stay on track and to also keep the students on track with the course. If I am disorganized so will my class and that can lead to a major disaster.
Better to be over prepared than not prepared enough
I'm a pretty confident person but my obstacles that I will have, will be getting to personal with students. I want to help and I tend to ask to many questions and that could be taken as invading privacy or just come off creepy. I'm really talkative so I will have to always be presented in class as a professional once I let that go. I start telling stories, and getting to comfortable like their my friends and that I don't want to do. my fear is not knowing the material enough, fear of what I know I don;'t know and then I have to figure out a way to deliver the correct information without showing the students that I didn't know. I have learned in these last couple of weeks though to just be honest and say I don't know this information and look it up in the text or refer to a collegue. Don't worry I have not befrieneded any students that is just a struggle that I know I will face quarter after quarter.
I have come to realize that I am not anywhere near perfect and will always be learning new ways to present information in an effective manner. Being honest and upfront when I am wrong helps me learn and grow and humanizes me to my students.
Expecting perfection is a common instructor mistake. Preparation and planning and keeping a notebook are the best antidotes.
Being over prepared is good. Slow down explain and don't give to much information because it can be to much at the same time.
I think it is good to over prepare for class so that you don't have excess time at the end. Put in extra activity if you do run out of time to help students critically think about the material you have covered.
Seth Sorornnadi
That; "Rapport is a needed relationship that helps students to engage in the learning process and instructors to feel comfortable in sharing their expertise."
It is always important to make notes, and go back to the notes, reevaluate and fix
It is important from to learn from your mistaks. For a first time instructor introduce yourself as a subject matter expert.
I always worry about being prepared for a new class. Most of the time issues can be resolved as the class progresses. Just by being aware of what students think and answering questions helps me to stay on top of things.
Make light of a situation after a mistake. We are all only human and take notes to avoid making the same silly mistakes.
instructors should make note of mistakes and how they were resolved
