It is important to have an understanding of oneself as an instructional leader because it allows you to play to your strengths and address your weaknesses, while managing the overall student teacher interaction. For me as well it helps with choosing courses that I prefer to teach- when you are put into a situation that is a strength, such as a lecture environment, you are more likely to be successful.
Hi Jason:
Very true - students are perceptive even if they are less than stellar in an academic sense. Instructors can be so much more effective when they have gained the respect of their students.
Regards, Barry
Hi Jesus:
There can be improvement if the individual recognizes there is a need and is wiilling to take the on-course instruction to make needed corrections. Not everyone is willing.
Regards, Barry
Hi Andy:
Great point! Looking at things through the eyes of the student positions you to provide a better perspective about how things are going and adapting the lessons to a better fit, that in turn leads to better student learning outcomes.
Regards, Barry
Teaching is so personal you need to understand and be true to yourself to be a effective instructor. If you lye, hide behind or tip toe around anything the students will pick up on it emidiatly and you will loose respect. Your influance on the students will be stronger by knowing yourself, your stlye, and your capabilites.
Having a strong understanding of one's self helps that person to continually grow within their profession. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses allows people to increase the effectiveness of their strengths and gradually improve on their weaknesses. As in many situations, a person must know themselves before they can positively impact others.
I find it important to understand myself for variuos reasons. Basically, I need to be able to relate to the various types of students that are in my class. By understanding myself and my lerning styles, I find it easier to understand the students and can relate better to their individual needs.
Often I need to put myself in their shoes to understand where they are coming from and what is the best way to get them motivated towards their personal goals.
Each student is different and we are not able to use the same strategy on each student. By putting ourselves in their shooes, it makes it easier for us to relate.
Hi Douglas:
Yes, the whole class experience is important. Understanding your class personality and their individuals needs is also quite helpful.
Regards, Barry
By knowing your strenghts and weakneses you are beter able to concentrate on the weak things in order to help round out the whole class experience.
Hi Earnest:
There are probably limitations to full attainment to just about all human attributes. The the thing is, as one advances farther into self awareness and self understanding, new visions, questions, and challenges are presented. So, one is never really fully fulfilled. But I think you've made a good point - pragmatic really. Self awareness is an obtainable attribute; self awareness requires depth of inner honesty and humility.
Regards, Barry
Hi Wook:
I think you've got it. The class environment you describe would be awesome to be a part of.
Regards, Barry
Hi Hank:
I agree, students are perceptive and they know when a taecher cares.
Regards, Barry
Hi Brian:
Yup! Student's perception as to the the positive tone an instructor conveys during class can really make a differenvce in the students attitude towards the class and the topics being presented.
Regards, Barry
Haveing a understanding of yourself will make you a better instructor and shows that you know from expearince as you relate to that as you are teaching,students will pick up on that when they see you have pride in and know what your talking about.
Hank
It is always important to know oneself because it will create a method/technique in which one may play to his/her strenghts to the class and develop a leadership role for the classroom.
So you can present yourself to your students in a postive way.
Understanding is the foundation for wise decision relative the tasks inherent in classroonm management. The question, however, asks "Why is it important for you to have an understanding of yourself as an instructional leader?" Perhaps a better way of stating the same thing would be to simply ask, "Why must an instructional leader be self-aware?" Awareness and understanding, granted, are not the same thing, but complete understanding of the self is quite likely an impossibility. Awareness is not.
Strive for understanding, but achieve awareness.
Hi Hank:
Very stimulating comment - I too think impassioned instructors can positively contribute to an improved student learning experience. When students sense the instructor is "in to it", they're more likely to vigorously join in.
Regards, Barry
One can develop a passion even if the particular course is not the instructor's favorite chaptor at that moment. as instructors we change our mindset and view the course from the student's perspective, the challenge gets you motivated. I love teaching particular courses quarter after quarter, I change and tweak the course each and every quarter so it remains "fresh" for me.
Hi Charlie:
When an instructor and their students make a good connection the resulting instruction is just going to be better. So when an instructor knows where they shine and work to their strengths, that'll contribute to the confidence the students have in him and make for a better connection.
Regards, Barry
