Hi Catherine:
Yeah, teachers can choose to simply "settle" for mediocrity, or they can choose to make a career of "continuous quality improvement". It's a commtment to themselves, but an obligation to their students. I think thoughtful contemplation and personal reflection are required and can result in the commitment portion. It's got to come from within. At the least, improved student outcomes could be realized.
Regards, Barry
Yes, Barry, "...a willingness to change." The operative words here. Change is a difficult thing for everyone, and most humans come to that table with ideas already formed: "This won't work': "I can't do this." Change IS possible for everyone, but it does takes committment and it does take time. It won't happen overnight, and we/I/everybody must just keep pluggin' along.
When I find myself falling into an old habit that needs change and upon which I am working dilligently TO change, I forgive myself; bring myself back to center; and move forward in a positive way.
Hi Catherine:
I believe that it is nearly impossible to change someting or behavior unless a person is motivated to do so. So, as teachers, if we want to strengthen weaker traits or areas that need improvement, we have to want to in order to make it effective and lasting. As we understand ourselves, it's only natural to play to our strengths and avoid weaker areas. I think that with a commitment to teaching, over time, our weaknesses can be minimized, and possibly even recognized as a strength. But it takes commitment and a willingnbess to change.
Regards, Barry
Understanding the kind of person I am as an instructor will allow me to concentrate my efforts at improvment on those areas in which I am the weakest. This will help me to be the best instructor I can be for my adult learners.
Hi Steven:
I think it's possible for a teacher to be effective, and at the same time the student's don't learn. It's like following a process exactly, but if the outcome isn't achieved then we missed the mark. So to me, it's important instructors understand themselves, recognizing they are not perfect and may need to work on specific areas of their teacher persona.
I can say the students will pick up on shortcomings, even if they never voice or comment about it. But more practically, if we try to be our natural selves, be honest with students, and teach to the best of our abilities, I believe progress will be made.
Regards, Barry
It will make the difference in how effective I am as an instructor and also how I progress with my learning institution.
Hi Dera:
Your creativeness is commendable and I think that if we can think "if I were a student, what could my teacher do to really help me?", we might see some of the ways we "think is right" vs. what students benefit from, learn from, perform better from begin to emerge and we would ultimately observe better student outcomes.
Regards, barry
Barry,
I recently finished teaching my first class. One thing I discovered is that my students have different learning styles. Although I teach online I thought I need to do something to help the students with learning styles different from what the online environment provides as a primary basis. What I decided to implement it preparing a hand out that I can file share that goes along with the lecture. This way students that need the hands on graphic organizer type of help can print it and take notes or take notes right in Word. Being online they have the option to change the font if they don’t like mine, too.
I’m still learning my instructional style. I have an advantage of being a balanced learner, meaning that I scored equally in all areas of learning styles, but at the same time I need to recognize that not everyone learns like I do. I learned a lot about myself during the first class and discovered a variety of ways I can make adjustments and be a better teacher. That is why it is important for me to understand myself as an instructional leader.
The best part is…it’s fun!
Dera
Hi Erik:
Those of us who are in touch with ourselves and are comfortable with who we are and what we have to offer will just naturally come across smoother and by that, make the students feel more comfortable as well in our delivery and presentation.
I think the best teachers are experts in their profession, but also experts at being themselves because they understand themselves. More natural styles will be received better than an imitation of someone else.
Regards, Barry
Knowing yourself allows you to play to your strengths, while addressing weaknesses behind the scenes.
You can provide engaging, entertaining, and educational instruction by knowing who you are. Those skills that aren't your strong points can be worked into your established personality and delivery style the more times you get in front of a class.
The more you do something the better you get, the better you get the more praise you receive, and the more praise you receive the more you enjoy doing it.
A cycle of success.
Hi Rhonda:
I agree that we all have areas that we are strong and also weaker areas that could be improved on. I think the key to good and effective instruction is to be open and sensitive to adhusting or modifying our ways in order to better serve our students. For some, this is very difficult.
Regards, Barry
It is important to understand yourelf. It is important to know what your strengths and weaknesses are. To be self assertive which leads to an effective instructor.
Hi Jill:
I understand where you're coming from. For me, I feel I'm thinking about my past classes, pondering ideas for making them better, and planning creative ways to make future classes more interesting. We may work directly with students for only a portion of the day, but that ddoesn't mean we can't spend time apart working and planning for improvements.
Regards, Barry
I work very hard understanding myself as an instuctor. I think this changes all the time depending on the student population. I find myself thinking constantly driving home, at home and by myself in regards to understanding myself and being a better instuctor. I realize that I am very 'anal' about my work area, space and teaching. Everything has to be in its appropriate place. I have to be very organized in order to teach.
Hi Donald:
Good self awareness comments. Real, honest, authentic, natural - these are traits students appreciate in an instructor.
Regards, Barry
I think this shows confidence to the students and gains their respect as you show them your true self. They know they are getting the real thing in your person, and that transfers to how they perceive the information you deliver. Working within yourself becomes routine and allows deeper concentration for the learning process.
Hi William:
I believe the more confident an instructor is in their subject matter and themselves as individuals, they're more likely to be open to others ideas, creative "out of the box" approaches, and other innovations in their classroom that may stray from traditional approaches but result in greater student learning.
Regards, Barry
Whether or not we understand ourselves as instructional leaders is only have of the issue. Are we able to adjust our style based on the needs/preferences of the students. Everybody agrees on the importance of classroom management but their are many different ways to accomplish it. I would encourage new, or even experienced, instructors to experiment with different methods or even styles in the goal to become an IDE. Obviously that requires a high level of both competence and confidence but the benefit far outweighs the risk.
Hi Elizabeth:
Great. I think it's very admirable to try our best to instill good qualities of citizenship and professional behavior, along with the program content the student enrolled for. When we seek better than average in our students they're likely to get something more from the instructor than just the needed facts and theory of a course or program.
Regards, Barry
I became an instructor to help my profession grow out of its “this is the way we do things” attitude. I looked at what I loved and hated in my instructors and tried to pattern myself toward the positive. I try to give the students what I wanted as a student and then see what else they need. I’ve been in the profession thirty four years and thank goodness instructors are changing as the students, clients and technology changes
