Hi Steve:
Good point - if we are disorganized, it may send the opposite message than what you have described, which may lead to a negative impact to the whole learning relationship.
Regards, Barry
Hi Jill:
Exactly - we need to ask ourselves, what kind of message does it send to the student when we as instructors are disorganized. If that suggests we don't care about the student, it may have a negative long-term impact on the learning relationship.
Regards, Barry
Students know if you are organized and take it as they know you care. They like when you are on top of things!
It is important so that the students see that the instructor is professional and that he cares enough about them to commit the time to preparation. This allows the students to have confidence in the instructor and gives them motivation for the career field.
Being organized and prepared for class is good for the instructor and the students. If the instructor is organized then he or she will be able to present the teaching material in a manner that is coherent and thorough. It shows the students that the instructor takes their learning seriously enough to be prepared for class.
The instructor sets the entire tone for the class. If he is unprepared and disorganized for class then it sends a message to the students that this is the expected behavior in the career field and in the classroom. He therefore can not hold them to a higher standard. In addition it has a negative effect on the student's motivation to continue in the career field.
It is important for an instructor to practice organization and preparation because it displays a professional sttitude.
I agree, it eliminates confusion and helps the students remain focused and attentive.
Disorganized and unprepared instructors tend to have distractions throughout the session and/or course. They always seem to have misplaced and/or are scrambling to find material.
If you are organized and prepared for lecture or class students follow along with the lesson much easier.
Barry,
What I find in a lot of cases is that instructors that are unprepared is because they maybe filling in for someone and that is not a class they normally teach. That is if it technical in nature, but if it is base academics that is not acceptable.
Basic knowledge elements should be second nature to any instructor. It also depends on how long an individual has been teaching. Comfort and confidence are not overnight successes for anyone, much like overnight music superstars. The quest only took them 20 years to achieve, but that one lucky shoot put them in the limelight and wow they are an instant success.
Same difference, One has to find their niche in the classroom and comfort in their relationship with the context of the material they teach.
Through simplicity comes complexity, this is a phrase I use with my students: Meaning - Just because something looks easy beware the devil is in the details.
Due to the three groups of learners it is much easier to assign an in class peer tutor to assist those that are experiencing difficulty in learning.
Not everyone learns at the same rate, nor do they comprehend same material in the same way.
the message sent should be clear, concise, and open so that the student does not feel that they are on the outside looking in.
Allowing the students to interact with one another teaches them that success is often a co-operative between themselves and others, and that is a life lesson that is not easily learned.
Hi Sue:
That's true, the instructor can quickly lose control of the environment. What can we do to prevent that from happening?
Ideally, having activities as back ups might work. Or, perhaps just asking the class as a group, "what is the main idea we have discussed"?
Regards, Barry
Hi Sharon:
Exactly! One question instructors should ask themselves on a regular basis is "what message am I sending the group"?
Regards, Barry
Hi Alyson:
You are so correct - when the instructor is disorganized, they lose credibility which may end up causing a long term impact in the relationship between student and instructor.
Regards, Barry
Hi Nutisha:
That's true. And, by coming across organized, it sends the best message to the student - I care about your learning.
Regards, Barry
I feel that when students see that you are organized in your introductions, presentations, testing, etc.,they have confidence that they can depend on the instructor from the gate, knowing that they are prepared, and that that instructor really wants them to be prepared and successful as well. They tend to feel comfortable in a positive learning environment and feel that they are on their way.
Hi Nia:
To echo a comment you made in another post - it creates a loss of credibility when the instructor is disorganized or unprepared. The problem when this happens is it can create a long term negative impact to the learning relationship.
Regards, Barry
So you don't waste everyone's time. You will make them want to come back if you have your act together as they have something to gain that will make their goals one step closer.
A disorganized instructor looks like a buffoon and is distracting and disheartening to the class.
One of the reasons it is important to be prepared for a course is because, once the course begins, there are so many things going on that it would be difficult to play catch up with something you could have done in advance. It is better to use the time you have before the course starts to do as much as possible so you are not faced with as much of a time crunch later.
