Because it makes you a better instructor to accept that you don't know everything but you are always willing to learn more.
therese, it is more of a challenge to find ways to involve students in lecture classes, but is essential.
Michele Deck
If I were a learner in my own classes, I could see which classes were more memorable and which ones I could improve on. I find it easier to teach classes in a laboratory setting where students are highly involved and are enjoying learning. I sometimes struggle trying to make other subjects more exciting and memorable for the students. I definitely have experienced some of the examples given of students who are not engaged in class.
Amber, relating real life experiences in class can direct students to the relevance of what they are learning.
Michele Deck
I like to supplement my lectures with working in the field stories. The students seem to better understand the content when they can place an actual event with the topic. It also holds their attention and keeps them motivated to learn more. I would like to be a learner in a class that gives me actual real-life and current information.
Donna, you are smart in using your "live class time" for discussion and giving students those notes they can read ahead of time.
Michele Deck
I would want to be a learner in your my classes because I feel I am engaging and use different teaching methods to appeal to the learner. I also provide lectures in advance and post them on a student portal to aid in class discussions. I enjoy bringing games into the classroom and encourage critical thinking.
Troy, wouldn't it be interesting to see how each of us is perceived? I'd like that opportunity also.
Michele Deck
I think I could learn a lot from myself and I would want to see how others would perceive me.
I would want to see how I am presenting myself. It would be like practicing in a mirror.
maricar, yes, it has the potential for each of us to examine our behaviors and effectiveness.
Michele Deck
Being learner in your own class makes you a better educator and improve more
sheila, it would be an advantage to have their view of us. The best educators are the ones who strive to get better each class.
Michele Deck
I need to know how I am perceived by other's. When in front of the students my perception and their perception are two different views. I may think that I am great, engaging, dynamic while the class perceives me as boring, lacking knowledge, and wasting their time.
Knowledge is something dynamic; you never know everything and there is always something new; I am one learner more on my own class.
Shirley, I would love to be a learner in your class. I, too, have a maternal child background and many stories to tell. I'm so glad you are seeing successful students due to your efforts to make your content memorable.
Michele Deck
I add a lot of humor to my classes. I teach Maternity and I laugh at myself a lot along with the students. I also tell a lot of personal experiences during the lecture. I have had the students tell me that they could remember concepts because of the true experience that was tied into it. I also re-read the chapters before I teach them and I always seem to "see" new things that make me excited about the subject we are discussing. I have been guilty in thinking I don't have time to do the group activities though and have mainly done lectures with power point presentations. I plan on incorporating more group activity learning in the future which I can see from this class will enhance the retention rate for my students.
Sharyn, thank you for detailing how you use your real world experience as a teaching tool for your students.
Michele Deck
So do I Julie. I teach in the massage therapy program and as a 13 year veteran Massage Therapist I have had my share of interesting experiences, My students love to hear about them, but not only that.... we often role play and do skits of handling difficult situations so that the students can be influenced by one another on conflict resolutions and such. Always a fun day. :)
Marguerite, it is good to keep the attitude of a learner even though you are the teacher. Thanks for sharing your routine with us.
Michele Deck
