Michael,
We surely could not do harm by being over prepared. Often, things just don't go as planned. Good preparation can help limit that, or if the circumstances are beyond control, the instructor can make needed adjustments to minimize distractions in student learning.
Barry Westling
Preparation and organization seems to be the way to go. I personally like to over-prepare just in case.
i am the same way. Then happy accidents are always welcome.
Sue Ellen,
I'm in the medical profession. I find that hospitals, clinics, and health care agencies often have free materials avialbale, or older equipment/learning resources they may willing to loan or borrow. This might work for you, too.
Barry Westling
I too am a passionate instructor. I truly love my career field and hope to instill that in my students. My problem is resources. I have text and Power point but lack charts and models in class. Are there places to acquire these mediums without a lot of cost to me or my institution?
Kimberly,
Yes, we all have unique and diverse personalities. Common traits that all instructors can strive for include being approachable, honest, fair, good sense of humor, a display of willingness to help, and most important, exhibiting a genuine version of ourselves.
Barry Westling
Is very important! if you are not sure about yourself how will you be able teach Effectively.
Wendy,
For good or bad, students need to feel like their being fully engaged, which may involve some upbeat theatrics from time to time.
Barry Westling
Charlene,
Yeah, it's like talking is not teaching. And if students aren't learning, perhaps an adjustment in instruction is needed.
Barry Westling
I believe my style is a harmonious mix of Socratic & The Dead Poet's Society. When I am in front of a class I am an extrovert. Therefore all of the delivery methods feel comfortable to me. I find today's career college students respond well to high tech delivery systems and humor. I adjust my lessons to accommodate this.
An instructor's personality can enhance the learning process for a student. Anyone can come into a class and present information; how the information is presented--in conjunction with an instructor's personality and affect--is what enhances the learning process and makes the information learned less forgettable.
Debbie,
Perfect. Continuously working on new or different delivery strategies can only result in finding more interesting or better ways to reach our students. Even after several years, we can always improve, as the class dynamics are in constant flux. And I think those willing to make adjustments and small modifications end up with better classroom participation, engagement, and attentiveness by their students.
Barry Westling
I am a creative person, so my personality gravitates to using a variety teaching methods in a 5 week classroom. I am with my students for 4 hours at a time - twice a week. I make notes on what seemed effective and what did not go over well.
Then when I am planning the next course - I review my notes and tweak the lesson to use the better method or try another one that someone suggests.
David,
For me, I can relate to and remember similar situations. I found that being honest, genuine and sincere goes along ways towards minimizing the "me vs. them" environment. Being a natural version of ourselves helps keep students relaxed and more willing to go with the flow of the class. Also, I always try to keep information, stories, and lessons tie into the work setting. Nearly everyone "is interested in what's in it for me". So I try to share information in a way students can see themselves inserted into the situation.
Barry Westling
I am usually pretty comfortable with people, but its difficult to get my true personality out when students look at me as an authority figure. Being a (new) part time instructor just makes it that much harder to build a comfortable but authorativ rapport with the class.
Nicholas,
Trust and respect are great sentiments for students to feel and express for their instructor. I believe this stems from being honest, genuine, sincere, and displaying integrity. How nice when students feel like "I want to be just like my instructor I had in school!"
Barry Westling
I want the students to respect me first. When they see I am organized they respect me. I usually come across strict at the beginning of a semester and my students adapt to my ever changing demeaner.
Jim,
Enthusiasm is a very difficult atmosphere not to be drawn into. Whenever that is the setting, students will likely be more responsive, attentive, and engaged.
Barry Westling
The instuctor must have passion and excitement about the material that is presented to the students. If not, the students will see right through the instuctor and will realize he is there for the wrong reasons.
carla,
I agree. I think stories are a good way to keep students interested, but they should be related to the course topics. I think they a are good way to introduce a topic, explain a concept, or illustrate a point. Students often associate the story with the fact or point to be made. Plus, it helps keep matters a bit more interesting.
Barry Westling
