Too Much Work for Allotted Time
Break down work into various class sessions
Hi Jenny:
This is a particularly difficult challenge to overcome especially when an instructor may not have ever taught a course from start to finish and hasn't yet developed an idea of how much to discuss in each class session. Keeping a teaching journal may help an instructor set up the following course with a better perspective of time management.
Regards, Barry
I really like your idea of checking of the objectives or to-do topics. I've written the topics on the board but never thought about actively checking them off. I'm fairly new to teaching so I seem to always struggle with figure out what to cover within the short amount of time we have for each course. I always feel rushed and I know that my students do to, so I am really trying to do a better job of managing my time and pre-planning/prioritizing topics.
Hi Kelli:
I've always been one to write the main outline for the day on the board. One thing I also do is is purposely include a little more than I know I will be able to cover. Sometimes I find I end up completing all of te tasks. Most of the time, the last listed items are reinforcing activities, topics, activities, or subjects that are supplemental.
Regards, Barry
A practice I started many years ago was writing the objectives I wanted to meet on the board before class. As I covered the material I would check that objective off. At the end of class, if there were any objectives not covered, I would make that first on the next sessions objectives.
The students felt at ease, because they knew that I would not rush through it. It also helps on those days that you don't have enough to do to fill the time.
Hi David:
Good point. One way that I keep track is to actually outline the planned daily activities as categories with bullet point sub headings written on the white board. That way, everyone knows the plan, and where we are in meeting it. It also keeps me tuned to time alloted vs. time remaining to cover topics.
It's true though, time can get away from you at times, and it's necessary to trim here and there. Best to identify "need to know" from "nice to know" in advance.
Regards, Barry
OH yes, Prioritize always - what absolutely has to be covered? As the instructor in the video clip was discussing - if my discussion is running long then I know something in segment 3 has to go, etc. By having prioritized my information, I insure that valuable concepts dont get swept under the rug or rushed out the door.
Hi Mike:
In class, with pooer planning, a teacher may find they've covered only half the the intended material and the teaching period has elapsed. Students get just as frustrated when they sense the teacher is flying trough material "just to get through it". I would say that is hardly teaching, more like crises coping. Not a good setting.
Planning, trial and error, reflecting on past classes, and perhaps, even reworking the course lesson plans or course outline may be necessary if running out of time is a common occurrence.
Since we all have the same amount of time in a day, I say we need to think like "self-management" vs "time management".
Regards, Barry
One of the things we need to strive for in teaching is time management and understanding that work loads are rarely unreasonable. We need to teach the students things such as being responsible for the work breakdown in 15 minute increments so they can keep on task.
This does happen from time to time, what I've started doing is listening to my students and what they feel would be a fair amount of work to do. In the beginning I relied heavily on papers and analysis/case-studeies. Through listening to my students I've realized that they prefer tests and benchmarking, so that all of the points aren't left to the end of the term.
Bobbi Bricker
Hi Bruno:
Sometimes time is our enemy, eh? Working smarter might involve isolating the most essential points, and assuring those are covered first, and reviewed the most. At least essential material will be covered.
Regards, Barry
I ended up having the same issue..my course , in my opinion, could be 15 min. longer.
