I think what sets great instructors apart from others has to do with empathizing with students. Students all have different and distinctive issues. Sometimes instructors (I know I am guilty) think about how they performed and reacted during their educational careers and project those perspectives onto the students. We have to keep in mind that our education occurred in a different epoch and things have changed a bit. We have to put ourselves in the shoes of the student and see things from their perspective. This will assist us in view what their particular struggles revolve around and allow us to make adjustments that are more congruent with their lens.
James
I believe instructors like leaders should be examples of what they want their students to be. If you want to teach integrity, dependability, positive attitude, conflict resolution, effective relationships and other skills, the instructor needs to display them as well. You can't teach what you do not know and you can't lead where you will not go!
I certainly have to agree with this! Communication between an instructor and students is crucial. And it takes the form not just of verbal communication but also of being able to anticipate students' difficulties and needs. Taking a genuine, sincere interest in what students' goals are - which is obvious to them when you're not - goes a long way towards creating a really strong dialogue between instructor and student.
Their ability to effectively communicate with their students. If they can ascertain what the students' expectations are as well as articulate what his/her expectations are, then things will go a great deal easier in the classroom.
Joseph,
Well said. One of the most important things an instructor can teach their students is to role model behaviors that they expect of their students. It is clear that you understand that with your adaptability statements.
Without narrowing the answer to one quality I would say passion and adaptabiity. An instructor has to not only have to believe in what they are teaching, but also has to channel their passion into their instruction. The other quality is adaptabiity. I've spent my entire teaching career teaching adult learners. One of the things I've learned through the years is not all students, and especially adults learn the same or have the same goals. As an instructor you have to adapt to the needs of the students.
I am not sure if there is one quality that sets apart a highly effective instructor or several. I would have to say that creating a comfortable learning environment is number one which would involve collaboration, a clear direction, openness, and listening. Fairness and integrity is right up there because if the students see that the teacher is hard but fair, they are more willing to work hard. I love to get evaluations from my students when they say that more class is "hard but fair."
Dolores
Facilitating participation by everyone. There are always some students that seem to "take over" class discussions. It is nice to have input by everyone.
I've got to agree with Harold,displaying a positive and upbeat attitude about whatever you are doing can become contagious.
I use soft skill techniques to elicit from students which remedial teaching techniques are most helpful.Using this approach my students have helped me become a much more effective teacher.
As has been mentioned below, I think empathy is what sets an effective instructor apart from an ineffective one. Of course, in order to be truly empathic one must be a great listener. I cannot empathize with you if I do not know you, do not understand your feelings--and I get acquainted with these aspects of you by exactly what you say, not what I might project.
Patience is another quality that goes hand-in-hand with empathy and listening, especially. If I do not allow you the time and space--even a few stumbles or false starts in your verbal expression--I will not get the "whole YOU" picture. In fact, if I respond impatiently, you might very well shutdown altogether. You are forever sizing Me up; you must first and foremeost deem me as trustworthy in order for our rapport to even get off the ground...
As a quality that sets an effective instructor apart from others; it would be that they are a great motivator. A lot of qualities go into the making of a great motivator, being a good listener, showing your humanity, showing your wishes for their success and being able to communicate that desire to them so that they believe enough in themselves to think that it is possible to achive. I believe that a positive, can do energy is key to encouraging or pulling them into that vision. It may sound all nice and orderly to say this, but I find I do not always bring that high energy to class each and every day. Anybody else find that as the quarter grinds on, energy levels tend to drop?
The most important thing to me is that they have a high EQ because they will be dealing with people of diverse background form all over the world.
I do take notice of the ones that are shy. What I do is if it is a simple question to answer I will direct the question to them and reassure them on their answers. Seems to work real well for me and starts to open them up.
Harold,
Do you ever find that some of your students who are shy do not participate as much? Do you ever present opportunities for those shy ones to interact?
In my opinion a highly effective instructor is one that treats the student as an equal in the conversation and does not try to talk over their capability of thought process. Also an instructor that keeps a positive attitude no matter what the situation show students that they are free to express their thoughts without any negative responses, which in my opinion opens the learning experience for the student and gives them confidence and security. Positive attitude and respect go a long way in my opinion.
Christopher,
Communication as a soft skill is important. Is there a specific skill when communicating that creates a clearer understanding for people? I particularly like confidence. Not overly confident, but it is clear that you know what you are talking about. Thoughts?
Doreen,
Thanks for that response. You identified some real good soft skills that can easily be role modeled for students. Great distinction between sympathy and empathy. They get confused so much.
I think communication skills are among the most imoprtant skills for an effective instructor. A good instructor must be able to communicate in a variety of ways with a variety of people. A quality instructor not only has to know the important information that is to be taught but he/she must be able to convey that information to the students.
I feel the most important quality of a highly effective instructor is listening!! So many people say they are listening but there is no eye contact, there is no kinesthetics, and the person listening is not attentive (thinking about their personnal life or distractions). Also, sympathy is a dangerous emotion for faculty to embrace; empathy is needed instead. Being able to communicate both inter and intra-personnal is vital to student comprehension. Exhibiting a calm, confident demeaner is also crucial. Showing professionalism in front of the boss while being obserbed by students shows them we are human and also how to take criticism constructively!
Thank you,
Doreen G.
