The courses / classes I teach build on one another - cumulative. Each class instruction follows from the previous class. Sometime, the materials prepared for a class is covered quickly. In the case, I go into the material for the next class (I always prepare materials for at least two classes ahead). I have been fortunate to teach the same courses for some time. There are few surprises!
Barry,
Agree with your points and key professional level of a relationship is essential to good teacher and student engagement.
Ken
Hi Ken:
Great! I'm a big believer in getting to know my students (on an appropriate professional level), but that can still mean natural, comforatable, approchable, willing to take time to listen to students, etc. In the best of circumstances, I think the student's performance can be improved when there is a positive relationship present with the course instructor.
Regards, Barry
One of methods for instructional backup plans is to ensure I have a good understanding of the students in the course, ie their backgrounds and life/work experiences. Often as a backup leveraging these adult learners can be very rewarding in the classroom if channelled correctly toward the lesson objectives or goal at hand.
Hi Cindy:
Not a bad idea. Sometimes, a back up plan is useful when one plan of attack doesn't seem to be working, so we use Plan-B to try to connect and teach the point or lesson.
Regards, Barry
Dr. A:
I've found even with muliple trys (plans A, B, C...)still don't hit the mark. But when I finally discover the "plan" the conveys the point, I integrate that into future planning. But each class is different and so a continuing process of discovery is usually required.
Regards, Barry
I never make the assumption that plan A will work. Sometimes it does, sometimes it does not. Plan B however, required a rethink on delivery and content. Periodically, students just don't understand. When this happens, I really work on simplifying the delivery in a way they can relate to.
Have more activities ready to use than you have time for, these can be used if you need to change direction of the class.
Hi Rebecca:
Good ideas. My better baxck up plans are activities that require almost no preparation and are very low tech - so that in the worst case, they'll work in almost any setting.
Regards, Barry
I base my back-up plans on the previsious class needs. I also try to have a "game" or activity around vocabulary just in case.
Hi Tangelia:
These all sound like good ideas. When back up plans are needed, everything else you've planned for the day is probably not working. So, you want to have something that is easy to use, quick to implemment, and relative to the the course of study.
Regards, Barry
Some methods of backkup plans for delivery instruction that I use include small group activities, using exercises from the book, allowing them to relate personal experiences on subject matter, handouts, and accessing online resources.
Hi James:
Great! I think this one example of how good back up plans shouyld work. Simple, little to no preparation, low tech, can be called into action at any time.
Regards, Barry
Hi Terri:
Keeping the focus on the business world or work the student is preparing for seems like it would always be a good topic of discussion.
Regards, Barry
Over the years I have managed to keep a number of backup plans on file that can easily be retrieved and modified as necessary to fit the occasion.
Ms Strong, you seem to pull the lagging minds into a real world scenario. Though our industries are different I believe you approach is applicable to mine.
When I see the eyes glazing over, I ask why do they think this might apply to their position in the business.Then I offer situations they might encounter and how the information i am attempting to share will be a solid foundation for their job prep.
Hi Elizabeth:
Discussionis a good way to keep student engaged if the planned curriculum seems to be missing the target. Also, there is more involvement by the students which will always provide more student participation.
Regards, Barry
When I notice that my students are getting antsy or dis interested, I try and reengage them with stories from the restaurant industry. I feel like, by us talking about different ways we have applied the course content out in the "real world" it really helps our students remember why they are in the class and makes them want to learn the material.
Hi Jacky:
A good analogy is like a day when the car doesn't start and you're already late. What do you do? Same for back-up plans. We need something we can quickly pull off the shelf with little preparation and still have meaning for the course topic. Low tech works best (discussion, group study.
Regards, Barry
Hi Samantha:
Good! It is awful and a big time waster for all when what is planned for gets broken, canccelled, unavailable, is missing, etc. Good teachers will always have a Plan-B and a Plan-C!
Regards, Barry
