Your Educational Orchestra
After reflecting on the section titled "Observing your Educational Settings", how do you prepare to conduct your educational orchestra? Specifically what do you do to make the physical settings accommodating, prepare yourself as the educational leader and select the best materials and delivery methods?
Hi Emily,
"Conducting" yourself and your planning practices will assure your students get the most from their time spent in your classroom.
Barry Westling
I really liked the description of an Educational Orchestra. I enjoy class best when every student participates.
I always review subject material prior to class, even if it is, for example, a chapter I have covered previously. I do my best to have all quizzes, exams, and lectures prepared at least a week in advance; that way, I have time to adjust accordingly. I absolutely have to have planning in place, though I find it equally important to be flexible and to make changes when necessary.
Hi Dave:
Wonderful! This kind of preparation and your organized approach demonstrates to students your ready, you care about teaching them, anad your available to help them. They can see that some degree of effort went into the lesson and most will view this as what a professional role model you're portraying!
Regards, Barry
I like to arrive to work early to prepare my classroom. I have all my printed material ready for the students. I use a variety of delivery methods that will accomadate each learner.
Hi Joseph:
The best idea when selecting course material is to employ as many teaching styles as we can in order to address as many learning styles as possible. Selecting material and presenting it in a visual, audio, and kinesthetic way is considered the most efficient method of delivery.
Regards, Barry
I try to have all the show and tell items laid out,all the handouts printed, a date and day planner listed on the board so they can see today's objectives and the date. I also fill out a seating diagram with their names so I can call them by name and learn the names quickly.
Hi Bob:
Getting the butterflys is probably a human traint most can't escape. Yet, if we get our materials ready, get prepared for the course content, line up resources needed, and make sure the class is geared up for an exciting class, most fears about starting that new phase should be minimized. I thing if we anticipate the first day will go well, and take measures to prepare for it, it'll probably go as planned.
Reggards, Barry
I aways have butterflyes the first day of a new phase. I want to make a good first impression so I make every effert to have all my ducks in a row.
Hi Audie:
Good plans. These actions put into play should produce a very good learning environment!
Regards, Barry
I have all my handouts ready before class for that day. I also put what is due on the white board in writing with lab numbers so they know what has to be turned in and when it is due.My classroom is my lab so i do my very best to have it looking nice so when visitors to come by it is as neat as possible. At the end of the day i make sure the computers are in order for the next class.
Audie toney
TTL 35
Avondale Az.
Hi Michael:
Good plan. Sounds like you care and are interested in your students doing well.
Regards, Barry
I spend most of the first day getting to know a little about each student and why there are here at this point in there lives.during the second day it is teaching as usual unless there are any sustantial findings on the first day.Even if there is you accomodate most of the needs as best as you can.You can't fix everything,even though we would like to.
Hi Peter:
Absolutely, the more prepared and ready to deliver the daily topics the instructor is the more seamless and thorough the class is likely to be.
Regards, Barry
Getting to class early to prepare for the day is key.Getting the training aids ready,and set,then reviewing the days schedule helps keep me organized.At times,I will make a little timetable for my desk to stay on track so I know how much time I can spend here or there.
Hi Michael:
Really good format. Students and instructor all prepared, comfortable, resources ready to go.
Regards, Barry
My preparation to conduct my educational orchestra begins 1 week before the class is scheduled to start. I make copies of all the hand-outs I plan on using during the course that week. I make 30 copies each based on the max class capacity and I use binder clips to hold each group together. They are then stored in a box arranged in order of when they will be handed out with the first group at the top down to the last based on the schedule I have prepared for the course.
I prepare my seating chart for my class the Friday before the start date along with tent cards with the student’s names who will be attending. I like to get to work at least an hour before class starts each day in order to prepare the classroom and lab area. Beginning on the first day of class all handouts are placed at each student’s seat location (syllabus, schedule, name card, or lab assignments, etc.) before class begins. I write the class objectives along with lab assignments on the white board.
Any programs on the PC that I will be using that day I have already open and minimized and I have my instructor side notes open to be able to refer to it for supplemental information to share if needed. I also try to make the classroom as neat and orderly as possible and all class hardware (pens, markers, and highlighters) are ready and in there proper location.
Hi James:
Interesting idea. Good plan. Prepared and ready.
Regards, Barry
I like to prepare in reverse order;i.e.,i make sure the training aids and equipment is ready and available (this is what the student will see/use )last, Go over the curricullum and presentation, make sure all my books and hand outs are there and ready to pass out, then I make sure I am ready for what the day has to offer, then it's "good afternoon class!"
Hi Dean:
These "tools" all have their place. Organizing the resources so that they are sequentially presented and accessible in an order that fits the course objectives.
Regards, Barry
