It is important to be organized and prepare to teach because it keeps the students organized and ready to learn. In previous classes I noticed if the Instructor is not organized it causes the students to have negative attitudes and dispostions in the classroom and the learning environment becomes compromised and the whole class time would have been wasted due to behavioral issues of the students.
Jan,
Sometimes I share with students we have no real time mangement, only self management, and it's what we do with that time that matters. Certainly, preparation for our instructional role is needed if we want good student outcomes.
Barry Westling
Students invest their time, money, and effort to attend the class. Being prepared and organized as an instructor shows the students that we respect their time and effort for being there.
Being prepared and organized also helps instructors to enhance the learning experience of their students. It is a part of good time management so instructors do not have to waste their time in finding the material that they want to present. Being prepared and organized can also help instructors to focus on their students.
Christopher,
I think students are creature of habit and routine. In fact, they thrive when they know what's expected and are given the resources to do something with it. That atmosphere just doesn't happen by itself, it takes solid planning and organization.
Barry Westling
The first obvious reason is to be organized and prepared for the class!
The second is that when students walk in and see the necessary materials already sitting on their desks in an organized, logical fashion, they immediately think their instructor is squared away and put them into the proper mindset.
I give them three-ring notebooks with the day's materials organized by day.
Michael,
Time is so valuable. Wasted time is the likely result of poor planning and/or disorganized preparation.
Barry Westling
Being organized helps you not only look professional, but allows you to use the most of your classtime. That structure helps keep the students on track and focused
Wenda,
Lack of preparation can potentially, destroy a reputation, instructor credibility, enthusiasm and interest by students, and an overall demoralizing haze over the class. Yecch, who'd want all that?
Barry Westling
I agree. You want to learn from someone who seems to be successful and well-adjusted in their career. Someone who is disorganized may convey a person who is overwhelm or struggling in their role/ career.
Ronald,
Students do notice the habits, behaviors and expectations of their instructors. I try to use that nature for the positive; prepare and inform, doing the same behaviors and degree of readiness everyday. It doesn't take long for students to see the patterns and expectations established, and students are comfortable when they know what to expect.
Barry Westling
With good planning, students will pick up that you are a organized instructor and will receive better results
Lacy,
Very true, as its been said, "failure to plan is planning to fail!". And we do serve as role models of sorts, so good students will take our lead and rise up to the level of expectations we give them.
Barry Westling
I feel as though if I go into the class ready to teach then my students come ready to learn. I show them that I take teaching very serious and that I care enough to prepare their lesson for them then they could show me the respect to gather the information that I have for them. Also if my class is all planed out there is no problems planed in it; therefor, we will have no problems in class that day.
Wenda,
Good preparation also conveys assurance to students that competent instruction can be expected every day. I think students want and need direction. Good organization and planning creates comfort that all is well and under control.
Barry Westling
I agree. Structure is important when teaching students. Knowing what's expected of you can help the student to organize their study time. Structure can be predictable and in a class environment that can be helpful to students. Structure and predictablity doesn't mean you aren't adaptable, but it does mean that you may be better equipped to handle change when it comes (because it will come).
It can help the instructor and students. Preparation can involve putting yourself in the student's shoes, seeing how to best teach a topic, etc. It can help the instructor teach students effectively.
Also, an organized instructor can help to create a safe environment for a student/ the class. Organization can cause a student to have confidence in their instructor (that they know what they are doing). It can also help the student to get to know the instructor and in turn find out what the instructor expects from the student.
Terry,
Students need expectations. And I believe they want direction, even if they don't always seem like they might. Order and clarity helps keep classes flowing, and being prepared helps with providing order.
Barry Westling
It is very important that as an instructor I am prepared and ready each and every day for class. It shows my students that I care about their success. By my example it also lets them know what is expected of them.
Amanda,
We make impressions to our students every day. These can be positive, or less than wonderful. Respectful interaction between student and instructor is facilitated by competent, solid preparation.
Barry Westling
Jennifer,
Our preparation determines much to the outcomes for students.
Barry Westling
