Victor,
When students feel they can approach and freely interact with their instructor, one major barrier has just been removed. Patience, kindness, and tolerance are traits most any instructor can adopt.
Barry Westling
Personality is very important as it helps to address the classroom with the proper attitude, so that we can reach student's full attention and continue with interest
Edie,
Great sentiment. A good analogy is the parent/child relationship. We want the best for our kids, and would do most anything if they needed help. Yet, we can't baby them along. I think patience, kindness, encouragement, approachability, and willingness to go the extra mile if needed are traits that students appreciate and produce mutual trust and respect.
Barry Westling
I have seen the proof of providing positive encouragement, laughter and support to the students in daily life. At my community hospital, I have run into previous students, and the best thing I have heard them say was that I helped them and they enjoyed being in my class. We tread a thin-line at times between our professionalism and wanting to be their entire support team, but the comments I hear and the efforts I see, make me want to continue to be a positive influence in their life.
Terri,
Good observation. If the instructor is not approachable, that creates a barrier to learning.
Barry Westling
Sometimes I think that the most effective instructors take the form of "Authoritative Friend". That way, the students trust the information you are giving them, but they are not so intimidated that they cannot ask questions.
Dawn,
Instructors usually want and expect conformity in order to adhere to class or institutional policies. That's needed, but just as important is the understanding that each student will appear as an individual - unique and diverse. For me, that's what makes teaching so fun and interesting.
Barry Westling
I believe that it is important first of all that teachers LOVE what they do. When you love what you do, that will translate to a better learning environment for students. It will affect your presentation skills and methods. It is also important, I believe, for teachers to be able to interact with different personality types and have an outgoing personality themselves.
Loren,
Sounds like great engagement. I believe that if the instructor is static, so will be the students, and as a result, so will be the learning environment.
Barry Westling
My style is engaging, I don't use a podium, don't sit behind the desk. I will use my desk for a staging area, and will walk the area between desk and students, drawing the students into the exchange, by posing a question to the group or calling on them when they appear to be distracted or uninvolved.
Laurna,
I agree. Many times the personal back-story involves multiple issues, chaos, and is counter productive to the mission of the class, topic, and outcomes related to job readiness. Approachability, patience, and sometimes, a bit of TLC can create a much improved learning environment.
Barry Westling
I find that instructors often take for granted the impact that personality can have in the classroom. Our students so often lack positive support and influence at home, making the instructors role as a guide even more critical for student success. Positive encouragement and clear expectations from instructors in the classroom also help to pave the way for students expectations in the field.
Shawn,
So true. Approachability, patience, willingness to help, and just old fashioned kindness can create (or in the absence of) break a good learning environment. It's really simple, in all our different diversities, just conveying we care can do so much.
Barry Westling
The way your personality as an instructor is perceived by a student can have a dramatic impact on the way the student learns in your class. If the student has issues with your personality he may shut down or even quit. If you get along well with the students and have a warm/charismatic personality chances are most students in the class will be open to a comfortable learning environment.
Diana,
From a students perspective, PPT is really limited. Where it works well is with graphics, such as charts, tables, figures, photo's, diagrams, and related illustrations. There are really better ways for students to read text. That said, PPT IS useful, as long as we remember it's just a tool (among many), and the focus should not be on the tool, but what can be accomplished.
Barry Westling
I think it s important to select that type of delivery that fits and allows you as an instructor to deliver the content in a successful manner. I like PowerPoint because I am comfortable with it and use it to key "topic" changes. Because my personality is outgoing, open role playing and interactional forums are also easy for me.
Ashlee,
This sounds great. Creating an effective learning environment involves students feeling like they can approach their instructor. The access and ability to freely ask questions from a friendly, patient and helpful instructor is vital. This openness also helps build trust and respect.
Barry Westling
I have an outgoing personality and want to get my students involved from the start. When the students realize that I'm comfortable and approachable it makes the classroom comfortable and they are more likely to open up and ask questions. I have a lot of personal experiences that I like to bring into my lessons which students enjoy and it gets them talking about their personal experiences as well.
Kathryn,
Wonderful. Students enjoy stories, and a little humor keeps the tone of the class light and makes for a more interesting class session. Too, students tend to feel better about an instructor they feel is natural and authentic.
Barry Westling
I am energetic and funny. I like my lectures to be interesting and funny. Powerpoint for me is just a backdrop to help me stay on topic. I like to use humorous examples, relate the information as much as possible to the students lives. I also will use cartoons and videos that are funny and energetic.
