Understanding yourself as an instructor
Why is it important for you to have an understanding of yourself as an instructional leader?
An instructor needs to understand themselves and how they work to better help their students. What are our strengths and their weak points. What are my skills and how can I apply them to adaptive learning. How can I best help my students by my best performances?
An instructor needs to understand themselves and how they work to better help their students. What are our strengths and their weak points. What are my skills and how can I apply them to adaptive learning. How can I best help my students by my best performances?
@barryw : I find it is important to know myself so I can see how my students will perceive me. I want to present myself in a certain light, and the key to my presentation is understanding myself. I can then play on what I know to be my strengths, and also address my weaknesses and develop better as an instructor.
Good point. I have often wondered how I look through someone else's eyes if I were a student. I think every instructor should be video taped during there lecture or lab and then be forced to watch it. I think we all could learn alot from that.
It allows you to see how the students see you and it will highlight areas that are strong and areas that you could improve on. Sometimes these are small things, but they can make a big difference in how smooth the class goes and how quickly the students will get what your trying to get across to them.
Nancy,
Essay could be done as a homework assignment, and perhaps, more weight put on homework as a grading component.
Barry Westling
Understanding myself as an instructor gives me the the insight on preparing for,leading class discussions, etc. My educational background is from a private university. I did not have multiple choice questions for exams...all essay. I am having trouble gearing my study question handouts for multiple choice exams. I guess I need to be very specific with my questions???? I am so used to saying "tell me what you know about the inflammation process."
I agree that you have to take a step back and do a self-evaluation of your teaching skills on a regular basis in order to improve on weaknesses. I believe it is helpful to put yourself in the student's role.
This is very important to know yourself and your capability and weaknesses then you can deal with yourself and improve your weaknesses.
Sue,
This is sound advice, and I'm sure your students appreciate your honesty and sincerity.
Barry Westling
I teach at a career college, and I tend to teach how I need to learn. I have never been afraid to admit a mistake, and encourage my students to do the same, I tell them that's what they learn from, they won't remember what they got right on the 1st try, but they will remember what they needed to work at when they got it wrong.
MacDameon,
Yes, and that's a major differentiating point between providing and conveying mere knowledge and information to our students. Understanding creates limitless possibilities.
Barry Westling
Everything you do in life consist of understanding, It's one of the key components. I believe understanding yourself gives you the ability to be more effective as a leader in the class, also alows you to understand students from experience.
Dave,
I believe instructors who are willing to take in personal or institutional evaluation (supervisory, peer, student), they are already on track to make improvements. It's the ones that feel they know it all, or are resistant to change that create a barrier to better student learning outcomes.
Barry Westling
That is a good point,in order to move forward is to sometimes have to look back and say what or how does the student expect from the delivery and material.
Tracy,
Part of being approachable is yielding to the commonality of each class cohort.
Barry Westling
I know that I have to be willing to change my teaching style depending on my students. In a career college setting, I always have to get to know my students. Classes change and so do the ages, and personalities of students. I think it helps me to know my students and make necessary changes to my teaching style. It also helps keep class interesting for me.
Michelle,
Good observation. I think that if we are sincere, and are willing to be helpful to students, whatever our natural personality is will convey a genuine connection with students.
Barry Westling
Knowing yourself and how you present yourself or react in certain situations can help you avoid personality clashes and confrontations and keep the learning environment a positive place for everyone. Also, it's well understood that people are more willing to listen to and respect the statements of people they like more than people that they don't, so it doesn't hurt to accentuate the strongest parts of your personality, whether that be charming, nurturing, etc. While at times, it might seem like a popularity contest, ultimately, whether you are introverted or extroverted, demonstrating that you respect your students and have the best intentions in mind for them, goes a long way. Being secure in yourself also gives you the strength to be a bigger person when dealing with the occasional bad apple.
