Charmelia,
I like to approach my classes with the expectation I'm a subject matter expert and can serve my students by sharing my knowledge in a way that both helps learn what they need and stimulates continuous learning even after the complete the program. Of course that does not mean I am near perfect, just confident in what I do. Students appreciate instructors who make them comfortable in their learning experience, and instructor confidence is one of those traits.
Barry Westling
Understanding yourself as an instructor is a key component to being successful. You need to understand your weaknesses and how to overcome them. Understanding will also help you in assisting students to ivercome their weaknesses.
Paul,
This was an interesting comment. In truth, we are all unique versions of ourselves, not another quite like us. And with that comes the need to understand deeply, internally, where we are awesome, and where a weaker side of us hides. The hidden part is ripe for cultivation and is often a lifelong, continuous process towards improvement, if we are willing to be open to discovering it, recognizing it when it is found, and be willing to work towards self improvement.
Barry Westling
Because as much as we instructors are actors in front of our classes we need to know the material that we teach. You can fool some of the people some of the time... I need to know what I know and what is left over if you get caught B'Sn to your students it will be that much harder for them to listen to what you have to say from then on.
Robert,
It's been said "talking is not teaching" and also, "teaching has not occurred if students have not learned". I try to remember these axioms when I feel I need to convey new or difficult ideas to students, especially in topics that have proved difficult in the past.
Barry Westling
If you do not know your self how can you present your self? They all say thoes who know do, and thoes who do not know teach. An instructor instructs, passing on the skills and the life skills nessary to succeed in the chosen subject a teacher does just the basic to pass on information. We need to think about ourselves as instructors at all times. Knowing about yourself is the start to instructing. Are your skils up to date to present the material and answer questions about it that are relevaint in todays enviroment of the subject?
Harrison,
Great. And many instructors also receive the motivation to examine where improvements may be needed, and make a determination to be committed to seeing improvements occur.
Barry Westling
Like the course said, To know my strenghts and weaknesses. Thats what I like about this training. I find new stuff I need to grow on each time I get into it.
Absolutely agree. When you truly understand yourself as an person. You will know your strengths and weakness and what you need to do to become an instructor lead.
Brian,
True, we were all hired because our technical skills qualified us to instruct, so it would be essential that instructors know their stuff. Many professions are in a state of change from time to time, but for sure, learning to be a good teacher is an constant work in progress.
Barry Westling
In my line of work teaching and welding are two diffrent things. Mostly you have to know what you are doing and how to correct it the right way for welding code reasons. I believe in my line of work you are only as good of a teacher as you are a welder!
Patti,
Being willing to improve, adjust, view oneself critically without being self-demeaning is really a demonstration of maturity and objectivity towards becoming a better instructor. It's always a work in progress, a journey (not a destination), and an experience that changes lives.
Barry Westling
Being an instructor is not a static role, but a dynamic one in which the instructor needs to continuously be alert to changes or emergent learning opportunities. In order to best address the needs of the class I need to be aware of my own strengths and weaknesses. I can use many different tools to increase this awareness such as in-class observations by other instructors, both peer or supervisory, input and evaluations by students and my own "gut" sense of how things are going. I like the idea of keeping a journal and reflecting on how the classroom experience was for a given day. I especially need to see my weaknesses, not as failure, but as opportunities for growth. I have been in situations where the observing supervisor was very critical, unsupportive and harsh toward my weaknesses and had little to provide in acknowledging my strengths. With a dictate to "fix it" without any guidance or support, I felt very undermined and eventually began to doubt if I was in the right profession. With time and maturity however, I began to realize several things: #1) The environment I was working in was very negative and defeating and I needed to find a healthier environment in which to work and #2) I needed to listen, even to the harshest criticism and try to glean nuggets of truth that would help me grow. This meant taking responsibility for my own growth as an instructor. I now KNOW I am in the right career and have a passion to continue to learn and grow personally and professionally.
Melissa,
I'll tell you, in my classes, students evaluate the class and instructor every term. Even after 30 years, I still find students making comments on some areas that I recognize still need more work. I guess a good educator is always going to be a work in progress.
Barry Westling
Joshua,
Flexibility in relating to your topics and students is always more beneficial than a fixed, stand-alone approach that's used regularly without regard for the the topic or delivery method. Also important, your willingness to rely on others (department head) to share ideas, seek approval, and garner alternatives. By doing so, you are creating better learning opportunities for your students.
Barry Westling
I feel it is important to understand yourself as an instructor because you can plan according to your strengths and weakness. I remember when I started teaching I struggled a lot with this. As I grew as an instructor I learned the areas that I myself needed improvement on.
I have found that I teach in different styles depending on the subject matter. If the lesson is more theoretical I lecture more. The lesson is more technical I am more the Drill Sargent approach. With more practical lessons I am more the Learn by doing it.
With all of these different styles I make sure that I leave it open enough for my students to ask questions for clarification and better understanding . I cant say that every class is perfect that I use these teaching methods in, so I try to adjust my approach for the next time I teach these lessons.
I always have my head of my department to bounce ideas off of and to help me improve my delivery.
Brian,
Humor is a good neutralizer. In the right doses it can create a more comfortable learning environment by adding a down to earth feeling among the studennts. Too much humor can be off putting to some students who may not appreciate the sincerity or intent.
Barry Westling
Students will recognize when an instructor is putting on an act versus being genuine in their presentation. Personally, I like to mix in some occassional humor during my lectures, which is a part of my normal personality. I don't think I'd be effective if I muzzled that natural instinct.
Thomas,
Yes, students will appreciate and be open to an instructor who appears enthusiastic, energetic and upbeat. Passion about a topic is very contagious.
Barry Westling
