William,
We are all important, have valuable experience, and have individual expressions of it. Imparting that to students is also a highly individual trait.
Regards, Barry
It is easy to fall into the trap of "teaching" to your favorite learning style. I am not a kinesthetic learner, but many of our students are. By realizing that, I put special effort into includeing simulated, and whenever possible, actual exprience into the learnign process.
I think everyone hits on the part about knowing your strengths and weaknesses. I think getting at your motives for being an instructor are important. Is it just a job or is it a mission? Also, I think understanding your knowledge of the topic area is critical to the information you can share and the passion of your delivery.
Hi Therese,
Boy, "anticipating problems". What a great solution knowing oneself provides when dealing with problems, eh? The more we experience, the more we learn about ourselves too. It's like leapfrogging expeirence over improvement.
Regards, Barry
That is a good point,in order to move foward is to sometimes have to look back and say what or how does the student expect from the delivery and material.
It is important to know yourself as an instructor and to know yourself as a person. Knowing yourself is the best way anticipate problems that you will have as a person; and, therefore, as an instructor. Only then, can an instructor prepare adequately. Students want an instructor who is in control.
Hi Terri:
So what you're really describing here about knowing yourself is the application of your love for teaching manifesting as a positive energy in the learning environment, right?
If so, I totally agree. Students will pick up on the "mood" of the instructor and respond appropriately to it, be it positive or negative.
Regards, Barry
Hi Andrew:
Good response. Each of us can use what we have naturally to fine tune important traits that lead to effective instruction - traits such as knowledge, dependability, communication, creative, courteous, efficient, appreoachable, honest and sincere. With these, nearly any class would be successful.
Regards, Barry
Hi Andrew:
Fun, upbeat classes will always be more interesting and contribute to keeping students attention. When teachers feel their personality is reserved or introverted, I remind them, even that is a personality, and so it can be cultivated to bring an outstanding, informative, and interesting class. The key is for the teacher to want that environment to exist.
Regards, Barry
To me it's important because I can use my personality to keep the class interested. I am a very outgoing person and am not very shy, I was voted class clown in high school and love to do karaoke, so I use these skills to keep the students interested becuase I get excited about what I teach.
Hi Jeremy:
It seems like you already have a great grasp of this concept. For newer instructors, perhaps a great way to identify the points you make for themselves would be to keep a teaching journal that would help identify strengths and weaknesses.
Regards, Barry
Hi Eric:
You're right about the confidence that exudes from someone who is self assured, knows where to emphasize their strenghts in order to produce meaningful class sessions, and and the competence to be able to inspire and motivate students from a foundation of strength. These are among the traits of exceptional teachers.
Regards, Barry
It is like that old saying, “you can’t help someone unless you can help yourself,†or “you can’t love someone unless you can love yourself,†and the list goes on…. I feel by knowing yourself allows you to truly know other people. This applies to the classroom and everyday life. This is a mantra that I live by and also instill into my students. Also knowing yourself, who you are, what you believe, what you like, how you feel, etc. you will be and feel more confident and have a better classroom connection with students and all people in your life.
Hi Joyce:
Great! I think passion can be a good factor in making a class successful, and it's something any theacher can exude in thier own way. Also, being sincere, honest, upbeat, approachable and supportivre are other traits that anyone can portray in their own way - and no real special talent is required. Students will appreciate the climate created in this environment.
Regards, Barry
you need to understand what your teaching style is and what your personality is so that you can better relate to the subject and to your students, you want to be able to have a positive impact, positive role model and mentor as well. The more knowledge you have of the subject, the more passion you have the better teacher you become
Hi Judith:
You touched on key point, that of enthusiasm.
Every teacher has the capability of being enthusiastic about the course they're teaching. And if the teacher comes prepared with a lot of varied and interesting activities, it really doesn't matter too much how the teachers personality manefests itself, because the students are going to be taught well, in a comfortable setting, by a knoweledgeable teacher who is enterested in the students success, while presenting the course material in a dymamic and unique fashion. Anything else the teacher brings is like icing on the cake.
Regards, Barry
Hi Cem:
When I feel confident in my abilities, prepared, and excited about the class, I just teach better, and the students feel that also. It's a very natural thing - not artificial. I think any teacher can provide their own version of these attributes and make a class must more meaningful.
Regards, Barry
Because I am the role model in the classroom environment for student. I have to understand diversity of my students and accordingly I have to arrange my lesson plan for my students. I need to provide comfortable and knowledgable learning environment.
It is important to know how you feel about the topic, the course, and relating to students before you go into the classroom. If you do not have knowledge of the course material, are un prepared for the class, do not believe in the college mission, vision, or do not connect with your audience then you should not teach the course.
I am very enthusiastic about my course topics and have a great amount of knowledge to exchange with students. I believe in the topics, the course, and the mission and vision of the college. I support the students in learning and succeeding. I do everything that I can to help them to learn.
Hi Robert:
I agree that it can be easy to speak off topic. However, like you mentioned, I think as long as it doesn't eat too much into the time scheduled for class, this can be a great way to break up the potential monotony of a lecture.
Regards, Barry
