Qualification of the instructor:
It is important to give life experiences and to show you are a human also. This will build accreditation with the students and bring them closer to their work and the instructor. Any time that the instructor shows the do’s and don’ts the students get to see how the training will apply.
I tell my students my qualifications too. Sometimes during orientation and during the first class. They seem to like knowing that I bring a lot of experience to the classroom. It is a break from the lecture to briefly relate an experience that is an example of what is being discussed. Of course, the material that needs to be learned has to be the main objective and I cannot lose sight of that.
The first day of class I always make a point of spending about fifteen minutes letting the class know of my experience and qualifications. During this time I tie together the fact that knowledge and training which I received in school, as they're doing now, helped me achieve a better life and reach all my goals.
I then open the floor to questions that they may have. Most if not all students participate, and I feel it’s a great way to start a class cycle.
James--
You are absolutely correct. Real life application of the class material makes a huge difference--good or bad.
Susan
As an instructor if you can relate the subject matter to a real life experience you have had it makes it more real. Also I like to ask the students if any of them have had similiar or related experiences. Some can be good or bad. Them discuss these.
Richard, once again I whole heartily agree … Our students deserve no less than instructors who are well grounded in the theory and technical experiance that form the essential foundation for effective instruction, instruction that is evidence based and adaptable to the needs of individual students.
These learners deserve instructors who have a command of a variety of teaching methods and approaches that can be applied according to individual needs and circumstances. There is no single method or strategy that will promote high levels of learning for all learners in all circumstances.
what works for me is to relate that most things we talk about can go wrong one way or another. Realize everyone makes mistakes. The higher up then ladder the more mistakes.
good thing to remember in order to talk the talk you have to walk the walk
Jesse--
Good for you for being so open about the 'bloopers'. We all have them. It is an excellent learning experience for your students.
Susan
As a new instructor, I have talked about the careless things i've done,as a young empolyee, that could have led to my being fired, as a way of showing, what not to do. Many of the older students,comment,yeah,i've done those same things at times.
I agree that relating things from woring in the feild helps. But I have also seen where some think that you might be braging. I know that if I was told that you can brake things doing it a sertian way or scratch things because you did not wastch when you took it apart would have greatly helped me in the field.
I agree. Sharing experience that is related to the subject matter helps validate the training and relate the lessons to real world experience.
