Personality of the instructor
I did not realize how important that my own personality would be in relation to the student learning. I have always been easy and love to interact with students, but will use it more to my advantage when I am having a difficult time with a student.
Hi Shirley,
Fair, honest, sincere, welcoming, and competent to teach the material is the best any student should expect from their teacher. Instructors who try to emulate someone else may come across disingenuinous, which I think would be a turn off to students, and could even compromise their confidence and respect for the teacher.
Barry Westling
Again depends on the student. I have found in the last 16 years no matter what I try or do not all students are going to like my teaching method. So, I try very hard to be fair and consistent. Everything is spelled out in the syllabus. Life happens, but it happens to eveybody and you always have the students who take advantage.
Hi Shirley,
Yes, and we can all try to be supportive and helpful; that can overcome a less liked personality.
Barry Westling
I have found that it generally takes all kinds of instructors with all the different types of personalities. You have students that like each type. So if I can't reach them somebody else will.
The personality of the instructor makes a big difference in presenting instruction as well keeping the attention of the student. I know from my own personal experience, being in a class with a professor who lack in the personality department, I lost focus on the subject and my mind begin to wander. I agree that at times you as an instructor need to step out of your shell and make adjustments in order to maintain the attention of the class.
I completely agree that an instructor's personality really does affect the entire dynamic of the classrroom. An instructor needs to be able to adapt to the class, since every class will be so different (i.e. very quiet, or more energetic). I feel that being yourself in the most professional version, is best. Humor doesn't hurt in small doses and constructive criticism is necessary.
