Hi Nicole:
Good post.
Regards, Barry
Hi Karen
I think we have all had some of those students - the ones you just have to wonder about. Those are the students that I try to spend a little extra time with - get to know them a bit more, if I can understand why they ended up in my program sometimes it can give a clue on how to reach them. Sometimes, just knowing someone is interested in them is enough to get them to sit up and pay attention. Even if you just ask at a break or after class something like "That section on ______(fill in the blank) seemed to get your attention, did you have any questions on it" or "Have you experienced something like that?" I also give a lot of praise thanking the class for such a good discussion, or saying I head something interesting at the break and sharing a point a student has made, etc.
Hi Gloria:
Great! As we learn and are open to new and different idea, we become better instructors, and as you indicate, understand ouselves better.
Regards, Barry
This course has helped me to see where my strengths and weaknesses are.
Hi Dr. K:
I'm a big believer in the benefit of being natural, approachable, smooth and seamless in relating to students. I think they appreciate their lessons better when they know they have a willing and caring advocate and facilitator "on thie side".
Regards, Barry
In teaching general ed classes in psychology and interpersonal relations, self-awareness and "modeling," and openess seem to be key. When students take a personality inventory, I share my results with them. Talking about how I've learned to compensate for my natural shyness seems to help students be more open in discussing their personality traits.
Seeking out constructive criticism of my teaching and the class both anonymously and during a class discussion early in the quarter and at mid-quarter is a great reality check.
Hi Anthony:
I tell my new instructors (who are new to teaching but have work place skills in the trade) that they " have years of experience - immeasurable compared to the students they'll be teaching. So be confident in yourself." The little bit you need help with will come with time and personal desire to learn what you need. No worries. If you're committed, you'll do fine.
Regards, Barry
Hi Ellen:
I think the key to your statement is being willing to adjust your instructional approaches - that reflects a seasoned teacher, and obviously, one who understands themselves.
Regards, Barry
Hi Harrison:
I think good instructors do adapt, modify, correct,, and in doing so improve, work better and smarter, and in the end serve our student better.
Regards, Barry
Coming from industry and not a traditional teaching background, I find it necessary to constantly evaluate my strengths and weaknesses as an instructor. I feel more confident and motivating when I am teaching a section that I am very familiar with. I come more from a manufacturing background so I always feel a little less confident when talking about design. I have studied design techiniques on the side and try to keep up on all new style issues to improve my confidence.
Hi Augustine:
You're right, in the online environment, there's a natural barrier to getting to know your students - at least the methods may be slightly different. I think it's important we relate as natural and cordial as possible, regardless of the delivery format (online/on-ground), and the student will appreciate us for that and maybe it will even impact their learning.
Regards, Barry
Hi Dr. A:
We seek out leadership in both formal (given) and informal (assumed) settings. To me, a leader influences others. I think we've all learned a little from each other (teachers collectively), and much of what we do has occured from past successful experiences of those before us. I agree leadership is important, however it was obtained.
Regards, Barry
Instructor heal thy self... Be YOU, look, listen and learn... from your students and yourself. If you make a mistake its OK. Just don't do it again, then (by my standards)you are stupid. Keep improving, changing, and adapting. Take risks. Push yourself...
Understanding my own strengths and weaknesses allow me to adjust my instruction so that i am an effective teacher. I do not enjoy games or like them, so usually if i try to include that as an activity it is not very successful However i have an excellent knowledge of my subject and years of experience--i also am extremely good at finding and incorporating outside material such as operiodicals, videos,and the like to enhance instruction so those methods are usually met with enthusiasm.I have to remind myself every class to write things on the board and thoroghly explain what the class is that day because i tend to zoom ahead. Being self aware makes nme a better instructor who can teach effectively to a variety of students.
Barry,
Understanding oneself helps the instructor know those areas that he/she is good at or the areas that need improvement. As an instructor, I constantly change to adapt to my student’s needs. The teaching environment is dynamic (more so online or virtual), and the instructor may never have the opportunity to interact/study the students as much as he or she would like.
No matter how much you know and how well you do it, when we move this into a learning environment, it's futile without leadership. Someone has to start the process with the basics and move the concepts to deeper levels. Without this leadership, knowledge is left unshared.
Hi Peter:
True. The Proverbs say all wisdom, knowledge, and understanding come from God. We've all learned from others, and that has formed the persons and thinking we become as teachers. Truely, good teaching is a lifelong process, as students and instruction are a dynamic entity.
Regards, Barry
I don't mean to Bard in like this but...
" This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as does the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man."
We are in the Truth business. As far as the qualities of our teaching methods and content are concerned, we are the founders of that business. The true knowledge and understanding we teach begins within ourselves; with self-knowledge and self-understanding.
Hi Michael:
I agree that as educators, we are facilitators as much as we are lecturers. I believe the more we can get students to participate in their own learning, the more meaningful it will be for them. We have to know ourselves so we can be good facilitators.
Regards, Barry
Need to understand your strenghts and weeknesses along with your teaching style in order to maximize the learning/guiding/educational experience of the students. This is critical in order to keep students motivated and for them to get any value out of the course.
