I feel that for students to be comfortable in the classroom (or one-on-one) with me as an instructor, I need to be comfortable with myself.
I have taught for over 20 years and like the classroom stage. So I tweek my persona considering the group I am working with... young adults vs older individuals, quiet vs challenging groups, etc. I can only gain their focus and create a positive learning environment if I portray who I truly am as an IDE, which is a chameleon!
Hi Kathryn:
To find out what kind of instructor you are, one might consider keeping a teaching journal. One thing a journal can help to reveal is what kind of person you are when you write down how you feel things went in class.
Another great thing about using a teaching journal is that it might help reveal items that need improvement in the lesson prior to the next go ‘round. Also, improvements can be made in both what has worked, and what hasn’t.
Regard, Barry
First, you have to understand yourself and who you are, before you think that you are going to understand a classroom full of adult learners.
I have always felt that as an instructor I can play to my strength because I know my personality traits and my learning style. I always try to play to my strength and understand my weaknesses. This has been a goal over the last seven years of teaching and will continue to be my goal until I leave teaching. That is to know myself.
Hi Earl:
To find out what kind of instructor you are, one might consider keeping a teaching journal. One thing a journal can help to reveal is what kind of person you are when you write down how you feel things went in class.
Another great thing about using a teaching journal is that it might help reveal items that need improvement in the lesson prior to the next go ‘round. Also, improvements can be made in both what has worked, and what hasn’t.
Regard, Barry
Hi Susie:
To find out what kind of instructor you are, one might consider keeping a teaching journal. One thing a journal can help to reveal is what kind of person you are when you write down how you feel things went in class.
Another great thing about using a teaching journal is that it might help reveal items that need improvement in the lesson prior to the next go ‘round. Also, improvements can be made in both what has worked, and what hasn’t.
Regard, Barry
Hi Jennifer:
To find out what kind of instructor you are, one might consider keeping a teaching journal. One thing a journal can help to reveal is what kind of person you are when you write down how you feel things went in class.
Another great thing about using a teaching journal is that it might help reveal items that need improvement in the lesson prior to the next go ‘round. Also, improvements can be made in both what has worked, and what hasn’t.
Regard, Barry
Hi Jonathan:
To find out what kind of instructor you are, one might consider keeping a teaching journal. One thing a journal can help to reveal is what kind of person you are when you write down how you feel things went in class.
Another great thing about using a teaching journal is that it might help reveal items that need improvement in the lesson prior to the next go ‘round. Also, improvements can be made in both what has worked, and what hasn’t.
Regard, Barry
Hi Jessica:
To find out what kind of instructor you are, one might consider keeping a teaching journal. One thing a journal can help to reveal is what kind of person you are when you write down how you feel things went in class.
Another great thing about using a teaching journal is that it might help reveal items that need improvement in the lesson prior to the next go ‘round. Also, improvements can be made in both what has worked, and what hasn’t.
Regard, Barry
Hi Leigh:
One thing a journal can help to reveal is what kind of person you are when you write down how you feel things went in class.
Another great thing about using a teaching journal is that it might help reveal items that need improvement in the lesson prior to the next go ‘round. Also, improvements can be made in both what has worked, and what hasn’t.
Regard, Barry
Hi Kiera:
One thing a teaching journal can help to reveal is what kind of person you are in that it can help reveal this type of information when you write down how you feel things went in class.
Regard, Barry
Hi Janet:
Consistency is VERY important to create a comfortable and safe feeling learning environment. Changing up the activities can be done at the same time of having a set schedule the students come to expect.
Regards, Barry
Prior to teaching I was a therapist and one of the first tasks in a therapeutic environment is to "join" with your client. I use this in the classroom every time. I need to join with the students. Sometimes different parts of my personality are required to do this. Some classes are more laid back and have no trouble discussing the material and examples. Other classes are more proper and prefer more lecture. I think instructors need to know their personality and still be flexible with in it in order to achieve classroom success.
Knowing your strengths provides the opportunity better serve the student(s). Understanding your weaknesses should serve as a motivator for balance. When an instructor can convey his/her thoughts and perspectives effectively students have a greater respect and admiration for the instructor.
Hi Michele:
One way to evaluate yourself in this regard is to keep a teaching journal that not only describes what worked or what didn't, but also how you felt during the session at hand.
Regards, Barry
while being able to understand yourself as an instructor, you can be to a point that you don't have to think about yourself and be able to focus on others.
In order to be an effective leader you first need to understand your own strengths and weaknesses. We are all human and possess both. If you are unsure of your topic, the students will pick up on it and you will loose respect. On the other hand, if you act as an expert and not an active learner your students can preceive you as being arrogant and also loose respect. You need to know yourself and be able to admit mistakes or when you are unsure of contect. Students will respect mistakes only when they are admitted.
Hi,
I have found that because I share the same type of interests with my students,I can leverage my past experinces to help coach them to make better decisions in life. For example being a Automotive School many students have fast cars and motorcycles. I have personally had many myself and I try to use examples of when I was younger to help them see what kind of dangers they can get themselves into.
Knowing your strengths helps you to play toward those strengths when teaching. Obviously knowing your weaknesses allows you the opportunity to improve upon those areas. If you are unaware of these thing, it is impossible to use them to your advantage or grow professionally (or personally).
I am a pasty instructor and my student love to hear stories. I tell them stories of my early career and how many mistakes that I made and how much I have learned. They see the light at the end of the long tunnel. Practice, practice and practice some more!
