My view point is that the instructor/teacher’s own personality is the bedrock of success for any course taught. Out of all the tools today at our disposal, who is standing in front of the classroom drives the overall student outlook as to what level of education they received.
Students are more willing to learn if you make the the deliever of the subject exciting and real world experience. Your attitude towards a topic can determine if your students wants to learn.
Hi Lori:
Wow, passionate, enthusiastic, vibrant, and competent instructors rule the classroom, at least that's how it's been in any classes I've had that are truly memorable.
Regards, Barry
Hi Alice-Marie:
Most all personalities will work on a basic level if we determine to be honest and sincere, convey caring and encouragement, and prepare thoroughly in order to present class information in an interesting way. Variety makes a big difference, and helps keep attention and focus on the subject - with the delivery person (instructor) in the background. We're just facilitators of learning.
Regards, Barry
Your personality will have a strong impact on students learning and modeling the information you're trying to get across. Being organized, professional and sharing experiences serious and humorous, as well as "scripts" of how I handled my practice has a big impact on seeing themselves in their work roles.
Your personality definitely plays a role in how you deliver content material. A good instructor should love what he/she does and present material in an enthusiastic and as a clear a manner as possible. A good instructor will take the time to ask the students questions in order to determine if the students are fully comprehending the material.
Hi Denise:
Good points about making a class memorable and relevant through stories and work-related experiences. Keeping a class interesting is a key to keeping attention, and hopefully, invovlment and engaged in the lesson. Having a vibrant class that's fun is a great learning envrironment.
Regards, Barry
Hi Michael:
I think even the best, more experienced, top dog, or wahtever you want to label it, can always benefit by sitting in other classes. I don't think think I've ever walked away from a class unimpressed with something, albeit subtle, that the teacher used that I found useful.
Perhaps a key is to set a personal expectation that gaining insighful experience through peer observations will occur every time a class observation is conducted. Our truth is what we believe, eh?
Regards, Barry
I'm beginning to enjoy your metaphors. We do fairly regular peer reviews with other instructors and I'll always pick up something I can use by observing others, even those with little teaching experience.
I feel that an instructor's personality is important in setting the tone of the class. When I am teaching my classes, I am trying to reach my students and make my material memorable--if they don't remember the material, they won't pass the course or be able to apply that knowledge to a relevant situation. I try to keep even the most boring material light by using variations in tone and speech to keep the student hooked and interested. I also try to include some "real-life" experiences or true stories that the students can relate to. A class doesn't have to be boring and miserable even if the material that is covered is very technical and dry...a well placed joke or light comment can help capture the attention.
Hi Stephanie:
Good mixing it up for variety. If students sense concern for their success, honest and sincere interactions, and solid instruction, even the quikiest of personalities is probably going to be acceptable to the largest group of student.
Shmoozing that's in-sincere, being unprepared, or artificial just wo'nt cut it with most people. Even a knowledgeable teacher can't get by on "nice".
Regards, Barry
Hi Matthew:
One way to avoid lectures is to precede a needed information with a story. Students like them, and if you can provide a reason why students may need to know the information, and convey that by a work-related situation or past experience, you may catch their attention and they may relate to the "lecture" material a bit better.
The other activities you mention are more likely to keep attention and interest. Engaging the mind is better by doing for most. But sometimes there is information we just have present, and there's nothing to say we can't make it interesting.
Regards, Barry
Hi Michael:
I've found that students like stories (here's an opportunity to share experience). If we can incorporate a story into the lesson, students will remember the story, and hopefully the message. So, in delivery selection, perhaps, discussion, class presentation, and peer teaching might be particularly good methods to enhance student learning.
Regards, Barry
Hi Michael:
Personality and instructor style can be so varied and different. I think as long as the instructor projects competence and confidence, takes an interest in all the students, and is naturally interesting or makes the class interesting, the personality part will be like a seasoning sprinkled over a well cooked meal.
Regards, Barry
It matches well, I feel. In teaching radio broadcasting, I've spent years as a jock and news person plus 4 years in television. I'm upbeat and positive and this complements the discipline nicely. In some of the more complex topics like media law, I have to adjust my delivery some.
I'm teaching a personality driven discipline (radio broadcasting). Having been in the industry (both radio and television) pretty much forms an instant connection that I feel lends itself well to instruction. I've always felt actual experience in your discipline is a huge plus in teaching. Having a room full of mostly "type A's" can at times be chaotic, an instructor's confidence in his/her teaching skills can keep that under control.
Hi Cheryl:
True in more cases than not (sigh).
Regards, Barry
Hi Carolyn:
I'm with you. Humor can break down walls or barriers students bring into the classroom. We don't have to be comedians, but adding humor is like addig a spice to meal - it brings out the flor and make the event more interesting.
Regards, Barry
My personality is very strong and I like organization and stress professionalism. Because of my strong personality, I have to use humor in my classes to make the atmosphere ligher and the learning environment less stressful. I let my students know that getting along with others and being approachable is important in maintaining employment.
Carolyn Dupree
Hi Isaac:
I like you approach to not just instructor personality but also the diversity present among your students. Like a salad with many varied ingredients, the taste is so much richer and fulfilling!
Regards, Barry
