Hi Shereene:
You're right. We will perform better, more confident, and smoother in our delivey when we feel we know the material and can present to different varieties off student cohorts.
Regards, Barry
I believe that as instructors our personality plays a major role in the delivery methods that we chose for our courses. We want to remin in a place that is comfortable and safe for us especially if we a teaching a topic that we are not sure about. If we are comfortable I believe that our delivery will be more convincing to thos that are in our presence.
Hi Roberta:
Confidence and competence go together. If the teacher is prepared and fairly self assured, both traits will be evident and the students will recognize the techer has command of the class.
Regards, Barry
Hi Clarence:
Very true. Also, some delivery methods are so theatrical, comical, critical, or over the head of the student, no matter how good the curriculum might be, students are going to miss the message because of the messenger.
I think honesty, sincerity, a bit of humor, and being a genuine version of ourselves usually proves successful - we shouldn't have to feel like we need to imitate someone, other than our own self portraying the role of a professional teacher!
Regards, Barry
Hi Linda:
I think you're right, and in one way, humor just about anytime is a welcome change from lectures, work exercises, or busy activities. We want to make sure we're serious about our instructional delivery, but that doen't mean we can't have fun we're at it. The key is that it's appropriate humor, provided in moderation, tasteful, and if we can relate it to the topic or work setting, all the better.
Regards, Barry
The personality of the instructor definitely impacts the delivery of the material and how well he or she captures and maintains the attention of the students during the delivery
a person can be the best in their field but if they don't have the personality to deliver it to the students they will lose interest
If you use humor to ease the frustration a student feels when reaching for the next level of competence, I think that helps both of you.
Hi Stacey:
Personality can bring a sense of interest, excitement, enthusiasm, expectation, satisfaction, and fun into the leraning environment. But too much of one mode, or over the top theatrics usually doesn't work.
I think student expect sincerity, honesty, and a professional deameanor from their instructors. Sometimes, the delivery can get in the way of the message, so balance is important. One way to check this is to have a peer teacher (who you can trust to be honest) sit is a class to observe and comment. Their comments may help tweak some delivery improvements.
Regards, Barry
Hi David:
Personality can help if the students are open to the delivery style. If overdone, students may take it as ingenuiness, fake, or contrived. Sincerity, honesty, and no B.S. goes a long way with most students.
Regards, Barry
Hi David:
I use the "quote system" also. I try to select applicable messages that align with the daily topic - of course, not always possible. I look for and save quotations from all kinds of resources. The more contemporary seem to strike a chord with the current generation of students, moreso than something from the 1900's. But there are some jewels out there, aren't there?
Regards, Barry
I like to put a daily quote on the chalk board. I do not read it or point it out but just let it float to who it floats to. Amazing how many students bring it up and want to talk about it.The conversation grows fron the student.
In high school my focus was drama, theatre and music. I now see how I bring these elements into the classroom! I use songs, mnemonics, mock trials, skits and debates to help bring home my main points. I have a strong, upbeat, dramatic personality, I am working on how to tone it down when I need to. I also am looking for new ways to deliver since these are my typical delivery methods besides PP and videos.
It may be the foundation of your teaching style. I always wanted to be an actor and do well in live demonstration .I also realize that I am not in love with technology and have to continue to use and study what is not a natural way of my personality.
Hi Richard:
Good technique. I find even short breaks are effective in sort of shifting away, then bringing the discussion or lesson back to topic. And I agree stories, past situations, information about the work setting the students are being trained for - these are great ways to capture attention, keep the focus, and help stay on track.
Also, allowing students to participates validates their value to the discussion and that their opinion counts too.
Regards, Barry
Hi Patricia:
I think whenever students sense sincere passion for anything, it gets noticed. Partly because it's somewhat unusual outside o9f certain professions to openly display emotions of any kind, and students are probably more used to less passionate teachers.
Nonetheless, that's no excuse for any teacher to display elements of passion, excitement, enthusiasm, and inspiration in some fashion every day in their delivery and approach to teaching.
But it has to be real. Honesty and genuine belief in what the teacher is discussing helps develop good rapport and stregthens relationships. But trying to be a version of someone other than ourselves will be seen as insincere, and some students may even lose respect for their teacher as the result. Ouch, not a good thing.
Regards, Barry
I am very passionate about education and the medical profession. As both a program director and instructor, often I have a better developed rapport with students that have attended my education workshops and/or were enrolled in a course I taught.
My students know that I like to have fun in class. When I see that they are wearing down due to an overload of material we take a short break and just talk. We spend time together discussing what happens at their clinical sites. They enjoy hearing from other students and like to hear my horror stories from years gone by.
Hi Kirk:
Yes, very important.
I think we all have our uniques ways we can provide inerest in the course. For instance, my way vs. your way of showing enthusiasm about a particular topic may be different. But we are both bring more to the class through the enthusiastic delivery.
Also, as teachers, I think we can all be courteous, patient, tolearant, and supportive. When we're approachable like that, it makes for a more enjoyable learning experience.
Regards, Barry
I can't think of anything as important as the instructors personality when selecting delivery. An energetic and engaged instructor that has a passion for the topic they are teaching can be the difference between success and failure for a student on the fringe.
