If I don't understand my strengths and weaknesses, I cannot progress in my ability to reach my students. Even though I would like to think I am an excellent educator, there is always a need to improve. What is excellent today, is only adequate tomorrow. The focus is constant improvement, constant learning. This is how I will be able to best meet the needs of my students.
Hi Robert,
And as we all know, perception is the students reality. One way to work with both strengths and weaker aspects is to be sincere. An authenic person that displays they are genuine can overcome weaker aspects in their personality or instructional delivery style.
Barry Westling
Hi Zeina,
Right. When we are self assured, that helps instill confidence in the students. They have to beieve we can transition them from where they're at to where they need to get to.
Barry Westling
Knowing one stregths and weaknesses alows you you taylor your presentation to better suit the needs of your class. It gives you some insight as to how you are perceived by your students.
It is important to understand yourself as an instructional leader since it can significantly impact students' motivation and learning effectiveness. It provides clarity in self-understanding and improved learning strategies.
Hi Joseph,
Great! As stated earlier, I believe if teachers are willing to undergo self assessment along with peer assessment - esentially, willing and open to change, they will continually improve as educators. Those that feel "this is how I am and I won't change are limiting themselves and doing a disservice to their students.
Barry Westling
I believe that my personal instructional style is dependent upon my personality, developed learning-habits, cognitive-reasoning, social-skills, etc., and that I have to be able to recognize the traits in each of those things that may be productive, and those that may be destructive. Regularly scheduled self re-assessments are definitely the order of the day.
Hi George,
Good points. I would add to your comment about making our weaker areas stronger by saying venturing out into the territory we're not as familiar with helps makes us more complete, even though it's not our comfort zone, and frankly, a little sacry. But that's what it takes to learn something now, just as we expect from our students. We can honestly say "I know how you feel!".
Barry Westling
Understanding yourself means knowing your strengths and weaknesses. If you know these, you can make your weaknesses stronger and your strengths even stronger. It's important to know your own personal learning styles (visual, verbal, kinesthetic, etc), as well, since we, as instructors tend to incorporate those particular learning styles into our teaching styles - we need to touch on all the different styles to some degree.
I'm only in my third term as an instructor, so I'm still working on understanding myself as an instructional leader. :)
Hi Bret,
Great! Often, passion is the greatest attribute any teacher can possess. It amplifies the strengths of an instructor while overcoming weaker areas that may need impovement, but encourages the teacher to make strides towards improvement. That willingness is recognized by both students and the teacher alike!
Barry Westling
I believe it is important to acknowledge both my weaknesses and strengths. Playing to your strengths is good for everyone. Also, I would seek to improve areas of weaknesses. I am an outgoing person and find it easy to get to know my class. I am passionate about teaching and try to inspire my students with visual tools such as PowerPoint. I know that I also like to keep the class in check through consistent study plans and lots of Q&A's.
Hi Edward,
I think most teachers were hired becasue of past training and education, experience, and knowledge about a some specific topic areas. The question is "is someone campable of sharing that knowledge, facilitating instruction, and guiding students to to a memorable learning experience. Confidendence goes well with the competence already possessed. So, patience, being approachable, and willing to appreciate students don't have the background the teacher comes in with - these attributes will contribute to teachers becoming continuously improved instructional helpers.
Barry Westling
I believe that you need to understand yourself before you can expect others to understand and learn from you. Understanding yourself also allows you to educate and improve yourself more effectively.
Hi Sherry,
Great response and self reflection. For me, teachers who are willing to be honest with themselves and open to change seem to have more satisfaction, both personal and that from their students.
Barry Westling
One must understand themselves as an instructor so that they can properly self assess and make adjustments to improve their instructon. Being aware of your foundation or starting point gives you the opportunity to recognize your growth. Knowing what type of instructor you are will also allow you to use teaching tools that fit your style and personality. If you are comfortable with your material and delivery systems student's will be more focussed, motivated and resposive.
Hi Rochelle,
Good teachers will be open on-going critique, advice, and on-going correction. When open to new ideas or suggestions from others, we not only humble our ego's but usually find there really are lots of alternative methods yet to learn. Ultimately, students are the recipients of this attitude.
Barry Westling
Nobody knows yourself better than you. You know all your strong and weak points. Knowing this will only help you improve on yourself as both a person and as a leader.
Hi Timothy,
The best personal attribute a teacher can have is being honest with their perceived strengths and areas that may need improvement. Getting objective feedback through assessment instruments such as BM or similar personality indicators is one way. Peer evaluation is another. I think a trusted colleague a teacher asks to sit in their class and really critique will likely give realistic feedback. It is here that our perception and that of another experienced teacher requires an ability to accept information and try to make improvements on it. Of course, student evaluations can also provide insight, especially when some trait or technique appears repeatedly by multiple persons over several classes. We have to be responsive to all inputs that reflect something about us we are not able to see ourselves. As Stephen Covey says in his 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, "Seek first to understand, then be understood".
Barry Westling
This is a very important concept because if you do not know or understand yourself both as a person and an instructor you will not succeed in what you plan to do. Sometimes the person you think you are is not always the person that you are. One of the self assessments I took while in the army was the Meyers-Briggs assessment. I took that test four times during my career and each time I was assessed to be an ISTJ. I cannot remember what the last three letters stand for but the first letter, I, stands for Introvert. If you ever saw me you would never believe that assessment. I am outgoing and willing to share my experiences. Sometimes I talk too much. One other thing we were taught in the army courses was to continuially re-evaluate what you are doing. That too is very important for an instructor. To find out if you are effective and projecting what needs to be you must re-evaluate and improve or update your methods.
Hi Larry,
Great way to have yourself introduced!. I believe we all have positive attributes and qualifications that enable us to be effective instructors. If we are honest, sincere, approachable, and demonstrate a caring attitude, all varieties of personalities and uniquesnesses can be present and students will be receptive to the teacher. There is no one right way.
Barry Westling
