It took me about one year to get good or comfortable with my new profession as an instructor. Now, with my personality and knowledge of the subject matter it has become a breeze.
Peronality can be a very big part in delivery methods. You need to be passionate and enjoy what you are doing. If you show them how enthusiastic you are, I can make students more excited to learn. Also, having a sense of humor helps to get people involved in what they are learning an can make more enjoyable.
Jona,
Enthusiasm and passion are really hard to not become engaged. Some are natural at it, others have to work at it, but all of can perfect it.
Barry Westling
My personality is key in the classroom. I control the energy - my students will never be more enthused about a topic than I am. I have a resposibility for the energy in the class.
Jeremy,
I agree! It's so important to be an authentic version of oneself, sincere and genuine in relating to students. Anything less will come across as "put on", and students will pick up on that right away.
Barry Westling
My favorite part of teaching is that my personality is my best teaching tool. Use it! Don't be afraid to be you!
Brian,
Personality manifests different ways for different individuals, but I think one key is to strive to be honest, sincere and authentic, and kind. These are traits anyone can demonstrate in there own ways, and it facilitates better class sessions.
Barry Westling
Your personality plays a valuable role in the selection of your delivery method. For example, if you have an friendly outgoing personality you would definitely want to choose a type a delivery which involves a lot of class interaction. Examples of interaction might be a game similar to Jeopardy in which your students divide into teams and answer questions pertaining to the subject. Of course, with all games there should be a prize or reward for the winners.
Jerrod,
Enthusiasm, passion, and a high energy force put into our classes creates an "upward flow" that's difficult not to be caught up in. Naturally, student attention, focus, and retention of information will be greater as well.
Barry Westling
It is integral for the instructor to be enthusiastic about their content area. If we seem lackluster and aloof to our area it rubs off on the students. I remember in college I had two instructors in History that made me wish....well it was nothing pretty. Yet, it was the talk lanky hand talker who was excited about the field that lead me to complete my degree in that major. I used him as my mentor and my teaching style exudes my excitement for the topic. Even if it is not my favorite part I find the energy and draw my recognition of the importantance of the topic and show its import to the future.
Judy,
Yes, students like stories, and I believe they are an effective method to convey ideas and concepts in a simple, understandable manner. Students find past situations, circumstances, goof-ups, or humorous events from the work setting interesting, and nearly always perk up when a story is being shared.
Barry Westling
An instructor must be personable. He/she should provide stories pertinant to classroom situations and to student needs. This creates a human touch that is very very essential to creating a well rounded classroom.
Virginia,
In the course of instruction, blunders, mistakes or intentional humor can make for a more lively and interesting class. Of course too much of a good thing can spoil the intention. This is especially true with intentional humor.
Barry Westling
Eric ,
There is a certain confidence that comes through when individuals feel self assured, comfortable and understanding of who they are and what they have to offer. This also reassures students, who usually are seeking guidance and hope.
Barry Westling
Rita,
I think this is what makes some classes more enjoyable.
Barry Westling
Learning should be interesting as well as entertaining. As adults, we can incorporate both in good taste,
In teaching economics classes, my personality has definitely been an asset. Injecting humor and energy into a traditionally dull topic is certainly a way to draw the students' attention.
In my opinion, your personality pretty much tells who you are. Teachers are the front line workers in the delivery of good discipline and the overall productiveness of students. If we as teachers first posses that great personality that people wants to be around us or that we are truly likable individuals, so too will our students gravitate to us. This will make it very easy to convey our methods and approaches for our courses and for the most part, it will be well accepted by our students.
John,
We all have our individual personalities, and being fake usually doesn't help. Just being sincere will be recognized by students who are interested in learning.
Barry Westling
It's HUGE. A dynamic instructor is much better received than the monotone, dry, drab instructor.
