Susan,
Great, knowing oneself can create the perfect learning situation; leading with our strengths, being comfortable with our duties and responsibilities, and having an awareness of weaker areas that can be worked on for improvement. The most benefecial recipient of course, is the student.
Barry Westling
An effective instructor brings their own personality into the classroom so it is important to know yourself. I have taken several personality tests over the years and I am a true "blue" personality - "den-mother", "nurturing" and a "fixer of things". This is important for me to know because in some teaching situations I need to step out of that box to effectively manage the classroom. I have to stretch my comfort level in order to best serve the students that I am teaching.
Dorothy,
These are all good traits. Given all the resources available to instructors these days, still the best one is the instructor. Students need to look to their instructor to facilitate and coordinate all of their class requirements with students giving their trust and support to their instructor. I like the sentiment you gave that says "follow-up with the answers that are important to the students". Prioritizing student needs will do much to create a positive learning experience.
Barry Westling
It is important to understand yourself as an instructor,first because you are interacting with others. Then you have to consider that these are people who are looking to receieve some information from you, this means that they are listening and watching what you say and do. If you give them the perception that you are unmotivated or unsure of your abilitities they lose their zeal for learning from you. You have to be comfortable with the subject that you are teaching and you have to present it as if you wrote all the books on the subject. If there is something within the context of the subject matter that you don't know, you have to be honest but show that you have confidence and ability to get the answers. You should also follow-up with the answers that are important to the students.
Philip,
There's a quotation I use that goes, "better to be thought a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt". Humility, honesty and sincerity do help empower instructors convey their lesson material.
Barry Westling
In each of us, there are things we excell at and other things we could improve upon. In the end, students can see if you are "faking" it or being sincere. Sincerity comes across with confidence. It is the confidence in one's self that makes your knowledge believable.
Eunice,
Continuous improvement such as you describe is great, and to me, requires an appreciation of the benefits, a commitment to follow through, and a diligence to demonstrate the on-going improvements with each class. In doing so, our classes will achieve better outcomes and more desirable results for our students.
Barry Westling
I began teaching 5 years ago and I was definitely the "Peacekeeper". I have learned a lot about myself and my students over the last 5 years. I find I am constantly making small changes (tweaking)to improve my skills and provide the students with a better learning environment. I am always open to student suggestions concerning ways to improve my delivery or the course content itself.
Michael,
Yes, traits like sincerity, humility, and kindness actually empower instructors. When coupled with past work experiences that complement the material being taught helps diminish the theoretical aspect of some material to the real world of work place relevance.
Barry Westling
Students are drawn to instructors who are genuine. They want to know that they are being taught by someone who has tasted a level of success they desire. We, also, teach best when we allow the knowledge and experiences we have gleaned to flow through who we are, what we've done,and how we are made. Few things are as painful as watching an instructor present what she/he knows through the lens of someone else's strengths and personality type. It's like watching Billy Crystal try to make an audience laugh by delivering his material like he's Chris Rock. It just doesn't work!
Katherine,
Good hearing! I feel we can't please everyone all the time. But by being patient and kind, having a good sense of humor, being approachable, fair, organized and prepared, and treating all with respect, at least the students are given a reasonable opportunity to be successful.
Barry Westling
I have found I like to "eavesdrop" at the beginning of class as students enter. They always talk about other teachers and classwork etc. It helps me get a glimpse of how they perceive teachers and how they teach. OUCH!!!!
Gail,
Great. I think when students find their instructor to be approachable, that helps convey trust and respect, and students are more willing to be participate and be engaged in their studies as a result.
Barry Westling
The three characteristics that I have found invaluable as an instructor, other than being knowledgeable in the topic, are being flexible/adaptable, being genuine and having a sense of humor. Taking the content of the class an adapting it to the audiance, utilizing these concepts is something I learned very early on in my career.
Kimberley,
That's great! I always have new instructors sit in other instructors classes. It gives insight to how different instructors approach similar topics, or demonstrates the variety of creative methods different instructors have come up with. I'm sure most observers learn to take what they feel as meaningful and adapt those methods and activities into their own version. Also, even undesirable instructor traits can be useful to witness, as these can drive home the point not to follow that path.
Barry Westling
I am starting a new job at a career college. Part of my orientation is watchig other instructors. I knew I would find things I like and do not like. What suprised me is that my idea of the type of teacher I would be is changing as I learn from these other instructors. I'm excited to get started!
Jennifer,
Right. Let's face it, we all have strengths and areas that we can improve on. Awareness of ourselves about where we shine and where we don't is one part. The more important part is what we do about it. And I think better instructors first recognize where improvement is needed and then are willing to do all that is needed to make the weaker, stronger. And strangely, humility regarding a weaker trait adds to the credibility of an individual.
Barry Westling
Understanding yourself as an instructional leader can be beneficial for your teaching capabilities as well as to the classroom in general. By gaining a sense of self understanding, the instructor is able to utilize their strengths to help increase the knowledge of their students as well as increase the interest of the students to the material being taught. Additionally, by knowing ones strengths it is easy to see ones weaknesses, thus making one aware of areas that need to be worked on or improved. This would make the instructor an even bigger asset to the institution and more well-rounded to effectively teach their students.
Julie,
I think students appreciate instructors who demonstrate confidence because that make them feel more at ease, that they're learning something, and classes run more smoothly because of the instructors expertise and personal understanding.
Barry Westling
It has taken a few years for me to understand who I am as an instructor. Now that I do, so do the students. I feel my class is able to be more successful because they aren't struggling with wondering what to expect. Understanding myself allows me to have more confidence, knowing that the decisions I have made are the usually the correct on and if they aren't, the sky won't fall.
