Yes, I believe that understanding yourself is extremely important, and it is also important to show the students that you understand yourself, well. The students are encouraged to become more self-aware, themselves, as you model that behavior.
It allows me the ability to be assertive, while being respectful. It places the expectations I have required by the class to be established in advance, so boundaries are placed. I also have my students answer the questions,"What are your expectations of me as your instructor?" and "What are your expectations for this class?" on the first day of class, allowing them a voice in the direction of a positive atmosphere that will assist in staying within the boundaries established by both them and myself, showing a mutual respect between us. I have had many students comment on how it made them feel that they were given value for their opinions.
Understanding my own personality and learning style reminds me of my stremgths, but more importantly, my tendency to teach in my own best style - not the best style for the students!
Now, I plan different parts of the class to reach each learning style in the classroom.
This Module reminded me of things that I had forgotten. I have heard some of this information about knowing and understanding yourself as an instructor, and upon implementing it I saw significant improvement in student retention as well as student test scores. Knowing how to modify yourself allows you to reach more students.
As an instructor preparing students to lead and manage military forces, we have a culture of lessons learned. The students need (and want) to know about mistakes we who have 'gone before' have made, but more importantly how we solved the challenges we faced and did it better the next time. Being willing to share our own experiences, but from a lessons learned perspective is hard (too easy to sound preachy). Self-deprecating humour often helps. Also, relating personal examples to current events also helps.
Hi Tony:
I think peer reveiew is a good exercise in objective, honest assessment. At times it can be humbling. But those willing to do it usually become better teachers as the result.
When I know myself, I can be a more effective teacher, leaning towards where and how I can assist students. I need to be a genuine "me" rather than an artificial version of someone else (perhaps, without their specific strengths).
Regards, Barry
Hi Derbe:
When I am aware of my stronger and weaker areas, I become more effective in the classroom as I know how I can be of the most benefit to my students. For instance, a good drummer should not try to be a good cellist.
Regards, Barry
When I understand my own instructional strengths and weaknesses, I am able to more effectively reach the students. I need to shore-up any areas that may help my students gain expertise.
Hi Vickie:
You're right! A good sense of your strengths and positive attributes can be conveyed in the classroom and result in positive results for the students. A good listener, following up to questions, engaging students by creatively inviting them to participate can occur when an instructor feels comfortable about the material and their delivery of it.
Regards, Barry
Hi Tony,
That is right. By looking at yourself, not only do you change your students learning but also you change your self in an attempt to fit to and adjust to personality requirment for good instructional leader
It is very important to understanding yourself as an instructor. By understand your instructor type enable you to reach out to the student during lecture making sure they understand the lesson that is being taught. Offering examples and asking questions during lecture helps keeps the students focus.
There is a good example; there is an instructor and there are students. An instructor as an intrructional leader should be a good example. I should understand myself first and see how that fit in the good example.
Its good to step back and just take inventory of your personality and your delivery of the information you give to your students.
Once you taken an honest long look at all aspect of being a good instructor, which also includes talking to your colleague, then you can become a better instructor to your students and yourself.
It is important because I am able to put my self into the students frame of mind and share real world experiences at their skill level
It is important to understand yourself as an instructional leader because in order for you to instruct the students correctly, you must understand the way you teach so that you can understand your students personalities and get across to them. It is also important so that you can work on your weaknesses and help your strengths while instructing. Knowing yorself is the first step in being an instructor. If you are not a leader than you probably shouldnt be instructing.
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses helps you focus where you need to put your energy in improving yourself as an instructor. It also makes you aware where you can be "tripped up". I, for instance, can be very gullible. On one hand it makes me very empathetic but on the other hand I can easily be taken in by excuses and lies. Knowing that about myself helps me focus my conversations with students about the essential problem--for instance missing assignments--instead of the focusing in on the excuse. Instead of being drawn into the problem the student may be having in getting assignments turned in on time I can instead focus on the solution.
It is important because it allows me to know my strengths and improve my weaknesses
Hi Patricia:
These are great points.
Knowing ourselves allows us to constantly make changes to both our strengths and weaknesses. Making changes to both of these on a regular basis will continually help us become more effective instructors.
Regards, Barry
Ronald - I delighted in your second sentence. Prior to me failed attempt at retirement six years ago, I spent the majority of my career teaching, researching and supervising residents and interns in the medical school setting. There I absolutely learned the truthfulness of your statemtn, and naively and ignorantly did not think that would be an issue in teaching in this type of institutoin. Oh well - I guess one is never too old - or experienced - to learn.
Sucess in any field of endeavor is only enhanced when one is aware of their strengths and weaknesses, not only in terms of their mastery and application of the content but also in terms of their personal attriubtes, attitudes and values. The latter three are constantly being communicated to your students in every word and movement you make during a class. And - as the lesson emphasizes - it clearly impacts not only their retention and progression, but their learning - the research is clear on this issue.
