Hi Margaret:
Truly, teaching is a lifelong process. Because the student dynamic is always changing, we have to be willing to adapt as well. I think it helps keep me younger thinking - something that becomes more vauable every year. I've learned I can never do everything perfectly, but I'm willing to shoot for excellence. Sounds like you are as well.
Regards, Barry
Hi Susan:
Students seem to remember stories, so when needed information is preceded by a story or situation or included along with it, I think students are more likely to put that in long-term memory and reatin it, probablbly because the can relate to the story - someting they've already experienced or can imagine in their minds.
Regards, Barry
When an instructor understands their strengths, and also the areas needed for improvement, one can better design instruction for the students. Also, we need to know our own personalities and how they fit with the instructional methods we choose. Although we may learn best by reading assignments, our students may best learn through use of visual instruction and experiental activities. Anyway, understanding oneself is a life long process and, as an instructor, I gladly accept this challenge.
Understaning my own stengths and weaknesses helps me plan & prepare lectures. I know what I need to research and develop as well as which topics I can 'wing it' with. I do enjoy sharing real life stories and experiences with my classes and the students seem to especially enjoy that. Sue
I agree with you 100%. Just like the song says "this little light of mine I'm gonna let it shine"
As an instructor, I am the focal point not only for the content of my curriculum, but also for my school, my profession and myself. I need to deliver information and present myself in a positive manner at all times to keep control of my classroom, create a positive learnign environment, and foster learning across a variety of learning styles. Knowing myself as an instructor will help me to continually improve delivery of course content as well as maintain a role school/content/field expert.
It will better prepare you as an instructor and also help you work on areas you are weak in. I believe in observing several different instructors and their techniques. That is what helped me the most when i began teaching. I was able to notice my strengths and weaknesses clearly.
Hi Joanna:
As you alude to, we all have responsibilities we're accountable for. Knowing how we can best meet those obligations throught understanding our abilities contributes to doing just a mediocre or exceptional job og teaching.
Regards, Barry
This will give you an example of what type of instructor you will be for the students. YOu have to approachable to reach the students if you come off rude then the student will be afraid to come to you.
So you can understand your own preferences in learning and deliver. Another reason is so that you can see where your strengths and weaknesses are. This way you can see what issues or concerns they might bring up in the classroom and plan for them.
Hi Sandra:
I really believe to know oneself is a life-long journey. Unless we remain as infants, everyday we grow, we experience, we learn, we become new (and hopefully) better individuals. We can't see ourselves completely objectively, so we have to depend on reliable methods to give us guidance. Trusted peer instructors, friends, students, even folks like the cashier at the local market can shed light on how we happen to be projecting our being each day. It's said "we can be the light, or the mirror that reflects it". I want to strive to be a bright light everyday to my students.
Regards, Barry
Before you can lead others, you have to know your capabilities
Hi Mark:
I think there is always room for improvement. So, I tend to think about my strong suits and how I can integrate them into my presentation and facilitation delivery in class. Weakness to me is really just an opportunity to improve. Having trusted peer instructors audit my class for critique, student evaluations, even video taping presentations can be helpful tools to make me a stronger teacher. But it's an ongoing, never ending process, because the stream of students is always changing.
Regards, Barry
Its important to understand yourself as an instructor because you need to know what your strenghts are to use that when instructing. Also to know your weaknesses to know what you need to work on.
Hi Bari:
The key in your statement is how to become that better teacher. Better can mean a lot of things and is usually quite individualized since we all have different backgrounds, experiences, and training.
Regards, Barry
The better I can be as a teacher to my students, the more information can be passed on.
Hi Stephen:
I agree and think good instructors either start with or develop a strong sense of their knowledge, value, and competence - all which lend themselves to confidence. Confidence is a state of mind and it has to based in reality. I think thats why we have teachers who work year after year really making little progress into the instructional lives of their students.
Committed teachers are willing to evaluate their teaching styles, strengths and limitations, and be open to adapting or modifying how they go about their work. Change is hard, but good teachers are ready to embrace it when its necessary.
Regards, Barry
With understanding comes confidence, and confidence as a teacher and the ability to quietly project it strikes me as a prerequisite for getting an adult learner to feel like a class and its instrutor are worthwhile.
Hi Jennifer:
How a teacher relates to their students does make a difference and is a huge factor in creating a positive learning environment for the students. They have to be able to relate to their teacher as a channel for learning their course material.
Regards, Barry
It is important for me to have a strong sense of how I relate to people in a learning environment. Learning in a environment that is comfortable is a big help. I am always working on ways help my students do well and I try to be open to all of my students in a fair manner.
