Leon,
Good thoughts. I think being willing to step up and face areas we perceive as a weaker area in order to overcome or strengthen that weaker area takes courage and maybe a bit of humility, but improved performance will be the result.
Barry Westling
Know your competencies, strengths and weaknesses.
Work on areas you need to improve on.
Seek training on required areas or advice from experienced instructors.
Keep honing your techniques of delivery.
Leon Guendoo
Brenda,
I agree. Standing up to our fears is the best way to overcome them. I think students are usually quite gracious when we try new things, as long as we are humble, and sincere about testing out new ways to help them learn. The more honest and up front, the more likely students will respond favorably.
Barry Westling
Terry,
Terrific! I think if we will to always try our best for our students, we will naturally come up with creative ideas, some untested (perhaps because of perceived limitations), but which will promote growth.
Barry Westling
It is critical to establish the respect and classroom management required for a successful course to know who you are, your areas of strengths and weaknesses, so that you can be prepared for those instances where you are weakest. Knowing your weaknesses will help you, as an instructor, be more successful in the classroom, knowing how to master and adapt to those weaknesses, so that the students are not aware of them, lending more respect and credibility.
Since there is a wide range of instructor abilities and also student abilities, I try to encompass each of the approaches you had recommended. I like the idea of share-pair because even in small groups, some students will not always generate ideas. I have also tried giving each student in a small group setting, a situational problem to resolve and then share their findings with the rest of the group, who are each individually working on a different situation. This is a good way to get the discussion going with everyone in the group.
David,
Great! Unless we are willing to push ourselves to areas we may be less comfortable with, there is less likeness that real change will ever occur. I believe that as long as we are humble and sincere in our presentation and delivery, students will be forgiving of any "less than polished" presentation or content delivery. Facing change takes courage, but stepping up to the bat with our weaker areas can really only make us stronger.
Barry Westling
I agree whole heartedly with Mr. Rowe. I would go further to say that if you don't understand yourself, you are probably relying on your strengths to deliver the curriculm and only teaching to a limited number of learning styles. Developing your weaknesses into strengths empowers you to teach to the entire class, not just those who share your learning preferences.
Terry,
It's true that we have uniquenesses and I think that's part of what makes classes interesting. Of course, there are areas we all can continually work to improve on, and we recognize too that we tend to teach to our strentgths. Understanding some weaker areas can be complimented by students leading the discussion, small groups, projects, share-pair, and even conducting instructional segments. Some weaker traits are more personality-based than skill based. I think having a willingness to make improvements, once identified, is the biggest key to change for the better.
Barry Westling
An instructor needs to understand the learning capabilities of each student. Without an adequate understanding of your own abilities, defining your strengths and weaknesses, the instructor would not be able to adequately address the student's needs at an appropriate level.
With a better understanding of yourself, one can begin to address the needs of students and which methods will be required for each individual student. The strengths of the instructor that will pertian to a students individual learning level will be enforced. Weaknesses of an instructor can be addressed by providing an additional learning environment for that student. For example, a very visual student may be asked to investigate an interactive web site to develop further information. A more creative student can be asked to write a mock proposal involving the subject matter. The list is endless when the instructor understands what he (she) can bring to the table for each individual student.
Debbie Kay Kirkland,
Learning from observation of others is very satifactory. I think it would be quite difficult to copy someone in an identical manner anyway. We become unique versions of ourselves through practice and experience.
Barry Westling
I have the opportunity to view many of the instructors at my college and am amazed by all. Each has a delivery completely their own. It is helpful to take examples from each and incorporate into my lectures. However, I know my style and trying to copy their techniques would only be ridiculous for me. But, I can successfully re-adapt their presentations to suit my lecture style.
Vanessa ,
True self understanding recognizes "I am good and competent, yet I can always improve and I am willing to do so". This approach and mindset promotes good student instruction and continuous quality improvement.
Barry Westling
It is important for you to have an understanding of yourself so you can evaluate your strengths and weaknesses as an educator. Also you are the only one who knows you best and you are the biggest motivator for yourself.
So you can play on your strengths and weaknesses.
Paul,
Good analogy. I think even the best "tools" need maintenance from time to time. So does the the instructor. We all have weaker areas that complement our stronger traits. When we recognize that we can always improve, that's a good start. Better instructors are those that are open to critique, are willing work to make improvements, and strive to stay current within both the educational realm as well as their profession.
Barry Westling
Lori,
True, we are all unique. Some traits all can demonstrate (caring, approachable, willing to listen, patience, etc.). Other traits are specific to our personality. I find that even if we have a weaker area in our personality, if we demonstrate confidence, and we possess competence, these, along with the above mentioned traits will result in a good student/instructor relationship and good student learning outcomes.
Barry Westling
A job must be done in my classroom. The raw materials start the class. A finished product must leave the class. I am the apparatus that does the work. So naturally, the better I know my tools the better that finished product will be.
Understanding your personal style and habits allows you to develop methods to enhance the presentation of materials that will interact with the students and promote learning opportunities.
Thank you,
Lori
Patricia,
Good thoughts. I think better teachers are willing to accept they don't have all the answers and are open to critical analysis and evaluation, with the intent on improvement. Those who resist remain locked in a dimension of instruction that inevitably limits creativity and innovation in the classroom.
Barry Westling
