I believe it is always good to be organized and ready for class. If disorganized you end up taking up class time to figure out what you are going to do, so by being prepared it helps the students get as much learning time as possible. It also makes you look good as a instuctor and shows you care about what you are doing because you took the time to make plans for the class.
Alana,
You're right. And it really doesn't take that much effort, but some planning and time is required to make sure all is ready and we are "there" for the student. I kinow it's easy to begin to think of our classes like our job, and so it can become commonplace to get a little sloppy. But as professionals, wanting to make good impressions and train our students, we owe them the courtesy of our time and preparation.
Barry Westling
I have realized over the years that being prepared for class will put nervous students at ease. They feel more confident and trust that you haven taken the time and consideration to make copies, exams, and assignments prepared before class begins.
It is awkward to witness an instructor who rushes into the classroom struggling to put their powerpoints on the computer and realizing that the powerpoint is not available. I have had instructors who were unprepared for class and it made me very uncomfortable and embarrased for them. I lost confidence and trust in the instructor. I didn't feel I could go to them for any course issues. Therefore, it is important to be organized and prepared each time you come to class. It's great when instructors are 15-30 minutes early for class and are ready to start when the students are arriving. It makes the day run smoothly and a fun learning environment for the students.
Kelsey,
That's great. When an instructor sort of "level's" with their students about expectations, I think that creates a more realistic way to conduct classes, and students tend to view their classes more responsibly.
Barry Westling
To me it is a critical part of teaching, if you are not organized how can you expect your students to be? The one thing discussed with my students at the beginning of every term is expectations and what mine are of them, what theirs are of me and what I will do as long as they do.
So far it has worked out because they know what is expected and I follow through with what I have said I would do.
Thanks so much,
Kelsey
Kim,
All good points and spot on reasons for instructors to prepare. Of course our students are the recients of all our efforts.
Barry Westling
It is important for instructors to be organized and structured. It sows the students the same responsibilty that they can do it too! It also ensures students that you are efficient and knowledgeble in your field and gains their trust.
Also, You have more classroom time to spend educating your students.
John,
Preparation take time, effort and planning. Doing so makes for better classes. The absence of such is a disaster waiting to happen, and students will also notice level of disorganization as much as any other.
Barry Westling
It seems obvious, but students do pick up on disorganization immediately and react negatively. For this, and MANY other reasons, we must more than adequately prepare ahead of time our class assignments and outlines.
Thank you. I fully agree. That is why we have to be so diligent to keep a positive attitude at all times and present ourselves to students in that way so that they continue to have positive role models.
John,
Yes, we are role models, like it or not. And students should model our (good) performance and traits, as they portray professional attributes that can be helpful in the work setting.
Barry Westling
Also, the instructor's amount of preparation is very likely to be at least somewhat mimicked by the students amount of preparation in the future. So the teacher's amount of prep becomes even more crucial and the effects even more long lasting, and therefore vital.
Judy,
This is a good anaogy, similar to an orchestra leader who is controlling many different facets of activity at a given time in order to make smooth, seamless outcomes occur from the synchronized coordination of the curricular delivery process.
Barry Westling
Deborah,
I think you've got a point about students being nervous when their instructor is unsettled, which can happen when lack of preparedness or resources needed for class are missing. Besides it being our job to be ready, being confident about a lesson because we taken time to plan, gather resources, and have an awesome game plan for a lesson will make a difference in student's attitude and attentiveness.
Barry Westling
When you are in front of your Students you should consider yourself "on stage". You preformance should be the best it can possilbe be for the benefit of the audience. They have paid for their college experience and deserve to get an excellent return on thier investment...and that equates to an excellent teacher.
Being unorganized or unprepared makes me very nervous. Thus not helping the students have confidence in me as an instuctor. When they lack confidence in class they close off the learning process. Therefore they do not listen attentively and later will tell you, you never told them that. Striving to be prepared is one of the best examples we can give them, as they take steps in the field of job hunting.
Nancy,
Right! There's nothing like that feeling we get when we have everything together, materials gathered, lesson ready, and anxious to get started. Anticipation of giving a great lesson produces an exciting energy that students pick up on, and they welcome it.
Barry Westling
Being organized will help you set-up the expecations of the class. Students work better when they know the class schedule and that the instructor "cares" enougth about the class to be prepared. I find that I always get more class participation when I am really prepared for the class.
Tanya,
These kinds of attention to details are noticible to students, even if they never say anything. They'll know you are prepared and maybe learn a lesson about their own level of preparedness.
Barry Westling
I usually try to make sure my syllabus is well-laid out, including expectations and grading criteria. In addition, the PowerPoint slides are prepared carefully, to highlight 3-5 key points per slide. It is also important to grade assignments in the timely manner and return them to students at the next class.
