Brian Reeves

At our establishment, sometimes groups are not the best thing I found. I agree that some students learn better with their peers but sometimes the groups could actually cause a distraction. They have been a group for a number of classes and sometimes they are more intrested in their own social clique than the actual material you are teaching. These groups I feel should be monitored and possibly seperated so the students can think for themselves and not as a group.

I find being prepared to teach a class is easy even if its not my regular class. We are all professionals, we needed the certification and experience in this field to be in this position so don't forget that. The students want our knowledge thats why they are here. The classroom is your castle, you own it! You are the boss, if the students see you as a leader then they will respect you. You know the material, an instructor just needs to deliver it in an enjoyable and educational way.... Thats the fun of this job.

Opening a new class with the goals and rules for the class to me is very detrimental to how the class will unfold. Discussing the topics and goals for the class are easier, I find for the students to understand than to just give them a piece of paper with the course outline and rules and expect all of the students to adhere to them. Remember different students learn in different fashions. Group discussions will cause the students to start to relate to one another which will help them to work together in the future.

The first chapter to this training talks about being a friend but not a pal. This can't be anymore true, I have noticed when I observe other becoming pals with students, it makes it hard for other instructors to be more professional with those student because they expect you to be their pal and when you follow a professional regime they might lose some resect for you.