Early on in my teaching career, I believed that every class should be taught exactly the same way so that all students were receiving exactly the dame experience in my classes. Then I realized that no two classes are ever exactly alike because no two groups of students are ever exactly alike. I find my self constantly adjusting my style of delivery and the material I emphasize or deemphasize based upon the relative expertise of the students in the material and upon the energy level and participation or lack of participation of the students in class activities. Every class is different and each group of students hopefully have an experience suited to their unique abilities and personalities.
A great teacher motivates and inspires her students. My students are encouraged to use dental terminology when they are in conversation with me and each other, this prepares them to be comfortable verbalizing the treatment to the patients. I find this help them to maintain their interest in why they came to school in the first place.
A great teacher inspires her students, and keep on giving even after classes are over. My students have my cell number and are aware i am availabe for questions and clarity of information after the lecture.The students are required to use dental terminology when in conversation with me or classmates, i find this motivates them .
The main focus as an instructor has to be on the student. The students are here to learn new skills and quite rightly expect the instructor to be the educational expert. By being student-centered one creates a relationship that shows the student that you care about their education. This in turn motivates the instructor to keep honing their skills successfully.
Students are customers and we need to offer a high-class service. If I focus in my students' needs and prepare a plan to help them to excel in their career and goals, I will be successful. At the same time, will help me to succeed as an instructor. At the end of the day, I want to serve my customers well.
Hi Amy:
That's the best description I've heard so far about what it means to be this. I think it's an attitudinal concept that eventually needs to translate into a type of behavior that the instructor has all the time.
Regards, Barry
Being student-centered places the student as the priority. We need to remember that is why we are there - to focus on these students and help them to achieve their educational goals. Making the student a priority will lead to teaching success, when students learn what is presented, I consider my teaching a success.
You always need to be on the same page as the students. If they don't understand. Why move forward?? It's Important to check for comprehension and make sure they are with you as you move thru a lesson
By understanding one's students, the teacher is able to more effectively mold the course requirements to a level that makes sense to the student.
By making the students your focus, it will allow you to better track the progress they make. This will be your best bet into knowing what extra help they may need from lesson to lesson.
Teaching math at a school where math is not the main subject and majority of students don't like math is quite a challenge for me. However, at the beginning of each term, I tell the students in my math courses that no questions are stupid in my classrooms and repeat it during the term. It sets the students at ease when they ask questions and the tone for class discussions/lectures.
By focusing on the needs of the student, as well as the skills they need to succeed in the workplace, it will focus the student on the material they need to learn.
It will enable you to modify teaching techniques to help ensure that your students learn and become successful in the course.
Well, here's a student-centered problem. I need help with this. I'm currently teaching a 47 year-old that has focused his whole life on his ex-military experiences. Every class is one in which I try and stay on track with him in Consumer Math and Environmental Science, but he always keeps sidetracking my lectures with his own ex-military experiences. And he's doing really badly in Math.
How can I use his devotion to his military background to encourage participation in Science and to bolster his confidence to learn basic math? He's SMART and has a fantastic memory. That can be used for learning math skills. Any ideas how I can encourage him to learn what math he needs to pass his basic math class?
Oops, I guess I should have given my own thoughts about being a student-centered instructor helping me to have succes in teaching. Yes, I hope it helps me. It certainly did in this instance, since I'm asking for help for a student.
I agree. If I sense that my teacher is interested in my knowledge of any topic that's being discussed, and will take extra time to make sure I am comprehending, I feel that I would do a much better job as far as participation and performance in the class.
Being a student centered instructor brings many challenges sometimes within a single class on a single day as you try to mesh the variety of learning skills and bring them all into focus and understanding. . . I know that sometimes i have been a variety of the instructors mentioned in a given day to meet the needs of the students, but always going back to my comfort at the end of the day and ending on a good note. Which leaves all feeling like they have accomplished something that day
most student can tell fairly soon if you are student centered and most respond well. they want to get the most out of the course and you want to give above and beyond so they have the skills to do well when in the work force. how ever i have found some will take advantage and slack off because they feel you want them to suceed more than they want to suceed. The next thing you know you are almost taking them by the hand and leading them through the course. these students consume more than their fair share of instructor time and effort and the rest of the class suffers for this. so being student centered is what we strive for but it is not without pit falls.
I would like to know the best way my students get information. Some are visual others learn better by listening ....
I feel it is important to get to know your students early on. I always start a new quarter of teaching by finding out what the students past experiences are and what their goals for the class are. This allows me to adapt the class to their wishes and needs and not solely to what I think we should accomplish.
Focus at the real needs of the student.
