Get Your Students Hired
Understanding yourself is important to all aspects of life. Gaining an understanding lets you shine in areas and then also learn and grow in other areas. Understanding yourself also helps when asking questions and gaining insight from your colleagues.
Thank you for this discussion.
Paula,
Getting students to be open minded, cultrually sensitive, and at the same time maintaining valid ethical and professional standards can be an integral component to any training program for successfulness in the workforce.
Barry Westling
Paula,
Some might call this the "aha" moment, and you're right, it's an awesome feeling. For me it creates a sense of accomplishment and purpose.
Barry Westling
Paula,
The flip side is too much humor. Unless the class subject is comedy antics, care that just the right amount of humor is provided in a given class is warranted. Like a seasoning for a meal: a little goes a long way.
Barry Westling
Paula,
Right. The old "wearing different hats" part of of job description.
Barry Westling
Paula,
It'd be interesting to see ourselves as students do. I know there tests that attempt to do this in a limited fashion. But to really see how they see us would probaly create the desire to modify some behaviors that we'd think are OK. Being an authentic version of ourselves is still the best approach to relating to students, as they will ultimately see throgh any phony facade we may try to subject them to.
Barry Westling
Allen,
Knowing how I am and how I am perceived (good and bad, right or wrong) helps me be effective in the classroom. I think facing what may be areas I'm aware may need improvement helps me work on them, and the classroom is almost like a lab for improvement of weaker areas. Of course, stronger traits only come naturally. But even so, the life of a teacher is ever evolving, so I guess we're always like a work in progress, even with strengths and comfort zones.
Barry Westling
Great points, and these habits transverse into the world of work as well. Also important to note that the student will experience different levels of professionalism among co-workers (and supervisors) in the world of work.
I also have a number of years of experience in the field of adult vocational education. I have found that there is nothing like the feeling of working with an individual student to succeed in their chosen field, and seeing a group of students gain and understanding of the material.
Excellent point!!! Bringing in humor allows for a reduction in the tension of the material, keeps students focused (trying to figure out what the next comment may be :), and maintains the atmosphere.
I also take into consideration that type of student that I am presenting to as well as the material - is it job seeking skills or anatomy?
Having an appreciation for personal learning style preference lends itself to comfort in presentation. Knowledge of those manners in which we display ourselves to others, both intentionally and uninentionally, elicits an awareness of commitment to material and to those being presented to
If you do not have an understanding of yourself as an instructional leader is a prelude to failure.
This must be known and understood by the individual.
The students will sniff this out the first day, then the students will lose intrest in the class and control may be lost.
A leader shows confidence by being prepared and very knowledgable about the subject matter.
Also indicating what the expectations are of the students.
Shining,
Well, we all want to avoid making mistakes while teaching. Personalities do differ and I really don't believe there's a one size fits all. However, if the teacher presents as a caring, approachable, sincere, and competent individual, those traits will at least tend to overcome student perceptions that may be less than wonderful. Genuine and relatable can go far if the sudents believe the teacher has their interests at heart.
Barry Westling
First of all, an instructor is a person whose personalities can affect his students. Before an instructor begins teaching, he has to know about his strength and weakness in order to fit into the student body.
Additionally, if a teacher has an understanding of himself as an instructional leader, it is easier to avoid making mistakes when he is teaching.
Hi Suzanna,
Your internal drive to help students really determines much about how you see yourself and the benefits that result to your students.
Barry Westling
Demarcus,
Yes, we are only as effectiuve as we are capable. We should try our best and seek to improve. This attitude will always help us be better teachers.
Barry Westling
I don't seem myself as someone who is clocking in my time to get paid. I see myself as someone who is participating in helping create a valuable member of our working society. Understanding who I am first will allow me to recognize flaws or strengths and work that to the students advantage. If I'm one to be easily distracted, then utilizing cue cards to stay on topic is key. As such, my instructional value is elevated.
It is important to know your strengths and weaknesses so that you may deliver instruction in the most effective manner for what you are capable of doing. It is also important to know your biases in delivery methods so that you challenge yourself to continue to expand enough that you can be effective for all students under your instruction.
Hi Brenda,
Great. Your implied willingness to be open to the new and emerging trends will keep your students well prepared and satisfied with their classes.
Barry Westling