We can use our students to help teach ourselves
I have learned that I can use my students to help me become a better teacher. Whenever I have a class that struggles I try new methods of delivering course content.
Hi Mark,
You make a number of good points of how an instructor needs to learn from students as well as develop alternative ways of approaching delivering content. Sounds like you have a good grasp of this. Keep up the good work.
Gary
I agree, I have found the students who have the most difficulty with the subject matter being delivered seem to be the ones I've that have tought me the most. I find myself looking at some subject matter from a clomplete different mind set so I cam relay it to the sudent in a way that he or she will understand, which makes it easier to deliver in the future in a way all the sudents in the class will understand. The one mistake The catch seems to be not getting frustrated with failed attemps, it's impossible to hide it from the student.
Student & Teacher Interaction is a great way to learn and enhanced your teaching abilities. I let my student play an active role while I teach them. This allows me to get close to them in a professional way rather than forcing them to listen to what I have to say all the time. This enhanced their learning ability and make them feel more confident.
Hi Harinder,
Good question about student differences. Student learning preferences are very diverse as you well know. In addition, each class enrollment seems to have a personality of their own. Both of these variables require planning on the part of the instructor. By having a variety of delivery options available for the same topic you can match the learning needs of that group of students.
The content will be uniform but often the delivery will be different. In addition, you may want to explore different deliveries to keep your own interest peaked so teaching the same course over and over does not become boring.
Gary
I realize that each student learns differently, at different levels, and also with different capacity to comprehend. I structure my class lectures according to the ability of a given set of students. The same subject may be taught at a higher level or a lower level depending on the set of students I may get in each given semester.
Based upon this observation, I wonder whether ther can ever be a uniform mothod to deliver a given subject?
Hi Lloyd,
This is the fun part of being a teacher you get to continually learn as well as improve your ability to deliver.
By learning from your students you are expanding your skills and competencies as a professional educator.
Keep up the good work.
Gary
