I agree that it is very important to humanize yourself as an instructor. Naturally this must be done in a way that maintains the highest level of professionalism. I really like the great posts in this category. The funny mess up story, the story about a mistake made, caught and corrected, the story of how you made a mistake and how you took ownership of it and made it right. All great stuff. I hear and understand what was said about competing with "colorful stories", but if an instructor speaks with sincerety most students can detect that and I think deep down they probably prefer sincerety to colorfulness.
That's so true,Humanizing yourself as an instructor goes alot farther then some may relize, I tell them that the one thing that is different between them and I is the fact that I simply started this career eariler then they did. The proof in that is I say -Just look at all the instructors you see here, Most if not all used to be students here,So theres nothing to stop you in following your dream and then possibly come back to share what you have learned out in the field. That really peaks there intrest in knowing that they have a future after there future. Meaning that some of them may just become instructors because there shop experience and shop knowlage could bennefit someone else's life just like my exp i hope, has helped them.
I try toshow the students stories of making mistakes, catching them and fixing them. Unfortunately for me the only response I usually get seems to be I am boring the class with TMI, too much information. My stories are truthful and to a point. This does not stack up with other instructors who may tell more colorful(or off color stories) in their classes.
Depending on which course I'm covering, I use some specific examples from my career to show that anyone can make a mistake. However, besides just showing them I'm not perfect, I use the examples to show how I was able to learn from the mistakes, and also to have a discussion about how to professionally handle themselves when they make them. Stories about screwups don't have to be just entertainment...
Almost daily, or at least weekly, I bring stories from the field of some of the dumb things I did. Not only does it let them know I'm human, if they're listening they might learn what not to do from my mistakes. Though it seems a majority of the newer generation of students don't get the lesson, the sharper ones understand and are very receptive to the lesson learned...
John--
That is excellent. It makes you human!
Susan
