Self confidence
I liked how they addressed the confidence issues that some of us face in the classroom. From some of my observations alot of instructors ,while very talented in the field, don't posess the social skills to be confident in front of the classroom. I myself found that it comes in time. Just because you have the knowledge in that field does not mean you are qualified to teach that course.
Jim, I agree that having a great support team is crucial for all first time instructors. I am thankful we had weekly meetings with the veteran instructors because, they saved me from making mistakes in the class room.
Gavin , I agree that this type of honesty and sincerety is reassuring to students.
Hi Jim, I agree about the fact not all who are good at what they do are able to have the ability to teach it.
I myself had a difficult time at the begining of my teaching career. In fact I almost gave up before it even started.
Luckily we have a great support system in our organization and I was reassured by quite a few of the personel that I was able to get through it and now I am glad I followed through.
Hi James, I had to work at my confidence level when I first started, but I found that if I let my enthusiasm hang out (for the subject matter) for everyone to see it made much easier.
Hi Gavin, I agree with what you are saying. In my field nobody knows everything and there is always room to learn more. Sometimes I learn from my students, and I tell them that.
Hi Gavin,
Well said. This helps the students to understand that you are an expert in your field but that you will be learning along side the students as new problems and issues come up in the course.
Gary
I find that a part of self-confidence is admitting the limits to your knowledge. I tell my students the first day that I do not have 100% of the answers, and that I am open to their insights and information and that I hope we can all learn together. I think for some of the students this gives them a feeling of responsibility, like they have a stake in the class.
One thing that is a confidence builder is to know your feild you are teaching in and be open to questions ,also let the students know everyone has somthing to learn everyday.
Hi Michael,
Well said. You do set the stage for what will be coming up in the next few weeks and by getting the students comfortable with you and the content they will be ready to move on in their education.
Gary
One thing to remember is that for some students this facility is the first encounter they have had with reality. As an instructor you should be personable ,with this comes acting as a father figure to some of the students,for others a mentor.You must asess each situation differently.The more confident you are with yourself the more comfortable you will be confronting students' issues
Hi James,
You hit upon a good point. Instructors have to develop their self confidence in order to be effective in front of the class. This will come with time and effort. New instructors need to set goals for themselves on how they are going to improve their delivery or communication skills. This way they are striving toward a goal and this will keep them focused on professional improvement.
Gary
