Lecture Notes
Lecture notes are most important to me the second and third time I teach a particular class. The first time is exciting, the text might be new to me, and the butterflies surrounding that always makes the class exciting and terrifying at the same time. The important thing for me, if it's going to be a class I teach multiples times, is that I take my lecture notes from the first class and build from them. Simplify, add things, try new angles. The class should get better every time you teach it.
Lecture notes organize my lecture. Also help me to stay on time.I prepare them in a outline form. Always revise them adding something new.And just review them before each class.
I usually go through the book the first time with yellow sticky notes, they stay in the book as I teach. I add and subtract the from notes everytime I teach the class.
This is especially helpful for my graphics classes. We are using very old books and a lot of the information has change, I wish they could find an updated book for us.
Changing lecture notes and journaling(each term) what worked well and the things that did not work so well is very helpful.
I teach Algebra online, and know the subject cold having been an engineer and systems person for my career prior to this, where I used Algebra concepts and methods every day to do my job. Setting up the initial class PPT's and deciding upon what to teach was difficult, but being in another experienced instructor's class for a week really helped.
The second time I taught it, it got easier, but then, I found myself refining things. I would update the original PPT's ands lecture notes when giving the class, based upon the responses [or lack of them] from students. Also, emails received with questions from students led me to revise the presentation. Finally, when giving the final grades, I reflect upon how each student did, what problems they had, and what I could change for next time so that type of student might do a little better.
The timing always changes depending upon the students present for a chat and how many times they ask questions. So I target about a 50 minute lecture if NO questions, then prepare another 10-15 minutes of review material or extra examples that I can use to further clarify points. This way, I have a prepared flowing presentation that can fill the hour chat time, yet still always be relevant and ready.
Am instructor has to not only know their subject, but be organized and prepared to adjust based upon the immediate circumstances. Having a complete flexible/extensible set of PPT's and lecture notes is essential.
Darren, I agree with your statement. I change my lecture notes, especially if something new in that topic has been made known. I also revise my notes and delegation when I teach from a new text edition.
Issy,
This is a common concern for all instructors. True comfort in teaching a particular course, may not come until about the fourth experience. It takes a full cycle of implementation, review and revision to fully gain confidence in "mastering" the delivery of a course. Nevertheless, if the curriculum changes or new learning objectives are introduced, the cycle starts over again.
Tremayne Simpson
I must agree, I stress greatly over my notes for class 1, but I still find(being a relatively new instructor) Class 2 is also still stressful as I make so many changes from class 1 to improve my material for next time around, very exciting but still stressful.
YES!!! I think it is fun the second time around. I always get a little more excited and always try to change it up.
