Joyce:
Really, no two teacher are identical. We all have our uniquenes's. Delivery includes media choices, resources, environment, and of course solid course content.
Personality can and should be modified to suit the occassion, but I think consistency is better tolerated by students. When I say consistency, I mean projecting courtesy and respect, genuine enthusiasm and excitement about the topic, support and reinforcement to the students, and patience and caring - to the degree the student feels the teacher cares about their succsess in the class. In this environment, most students will sense the teacher is interested which will help motivate their students.
Regards, Barry
Terri:
Delivery can be effective in many diiferent ways. If we capture attention and keep the students's interest, I think we've acheived success in delivering our message.
Students lose interest when they are bored, feel the information is not beneficial to them, they're tired, or the delievery is weak. I think we can attack all four of these areas successfuly. The key is to the topics , lecture, lessons, and discussion focused on the job or work setting the student is being prepared for. When the student can picture themselves in that realm, because its personal and pertains solely to them, they are more likely to pay attention.
Regards, Barry
Hi Scott:
Yes, we can show it by being passionate, enthusiastic, and demonstrating an interest in the course topic. REgardless of our individual delivery styles, we all can project these sentiments to help improve the students motivation and keep their attention.
Regards, Barry
Hi Karyn:
Great! Each teacher has their own personality, but similarly, we can all demonstrate passion, excitement, enthusiasm, motivation, encoragement, professional pride, and support. These traits are among those that keep student interest, and tend to have students pay attention more often.
Regards, Barry
Hi James:
This is great! When we relate course information to current topics or events that students are interested in, they'll associate that information with the course information. Great memory technique.
Regards, Barry
how you deliver the information to a student makes a differance on how they listen. No all students will sit there and listen to what all is being said. But if you make it exciting, change your delivary methods it keeps there attention drawn to you and not just dreading what is being taught that day.
Gerard:
I mentioned earlier about being natural. This really helps even out the challenge of teaching students new information. Passionate teachers may be able to motivate better, and knowledge, being approachable, assisting with course requirements, and conveying a genuine caring all contribute to a better prepared student.
Regards, Barry
While your personality helps you decide on a comfort level for you, the instructor must take the personalities of the students into account. Sometimes it is necessary to tone down your personality to blend with some student personalities. Since the students have a variety of personalities, the instructor must use a variety of delivery methods.
Hi Gordon:
Yes! When students are interested, they're going to pay attention. And they're more likely to pay attention when they feel the instructor is supportive, approachable, kind and caring, natural in their delievry, and conveys confidence.
Regards, Barry
Alison:
In 30+ years of teaching I think what you describe ismore common than not. But personality is an essential factor in creating a teaching environment that can positively contribute to improved student outcomes. We create the environment.
Regards, Barry
Darrell:
When students feel comforatble, naturally you've created a good environment for the to particiaptae, ask questions. Being natural and approachable are impotant ways to achieve this setting.
Regards, Barry
Ones personality effects their communication style and allows, or prevents an instructors emotional connection to the subject/content to show. "If you believe it, say it like you mean it."
Love your subject. I always start off with a question or start off as a brief review of what we discussed in class the day before. Sometimes i'll even use a clip from the morning news if it pertains to the class lecture.
Personality plays an extremely large role in delivery. If you are taking the "Ben Stein" approach and being monotonous then their attention may fade especially if you are instructing in a night course. You must be able to apply concepts and lessons to activities or experiences they can relate to or may have had. I find it useful to be able to correlate information to the latest movies/news/events that the bulk of the class would be able to recognize. This way they can reinforce a process or concept that has already been imbedded in them through their preference not suggestion.
Tony:
Personalizing can occur, but no guarrantees. I think if the instructor is consistent in the approach abd delivery, that consistency helps keep students willing to be open to instruction. Courtesy and respect, being approachable, volunteering assitance, and conveying the teacher cares about the success of the student ore all part of personality that results in positive student results.
Regards, Barry
Joseph:
I'm in agreement with you. In fact, our diversity is what makes learning more interesting for students. One comment I think is important is instructors should be consistent in their delievery, as student tend to not like surprises or unexpected changes. The other is to be open to change. Like you said, "improve on our weaknesses". For some, they're not even aware there is a need for improvement. So, be willing to change, then carry through seeking methods to make those changes a reality.
Regards, barry
I believe you should be yourself at all times. Hopefuly your personality enables your to project your passion for the subject you are teaching. Students very quickly pickup on your delivery style.
It gives you an opportunity to personalize the subject matter.
Leting your personality come through when teaching connects with the students on a personal level and gets and keeps them interested in what you are trying to teach them.
This probably runs against the grain for most people, but I have a "teaching personality" that is rather different from my "real" personality. I am shy, introverted,and very nonconfrontational. My "teaching personality" is extroverted, enthusiastic, and confident, which helps engage the students more effectively. Although I dislike confrontation, someone has to be in charge of the classroom, and that shouldn't be the students. I need to interject when questions get off topic or when students are whispering, texting, etc, though I am, by no means, a drill sergeant.
