A new instructor
Adjusting from your former career to that of an instructor requires self assessment to make sure you are right for the job.
Hi Kenneth,
This is a tough question to answer because much of the comfortableness is based upon the individual instructor. An instructor generally starts to feel more at ease and settled in after teaching one or two cycles of courses. It is at this time instructors start to get familiar with the content and start to develop skill in delivery. Also, instructors start to use different approaches to the material delivery and this helps to build confidence. The first 2 years of an instructors career are the the years when they decided to stay with teaching or move on to something else.
If a new instructor is constantly looking for ways of improving in the areas of delivery, student management and assessment they will see improvements in all of these areas and they will settled into a productive and rewarding teaching career.
Gary
I guess it all depends on the material, comfort level with the subject matter, knowledge of the material, who crossed you into the course and how you feel about the subject. It could take a while to be at ease with a topic until you develop your own style of interpretation and delivery.
what sort of time frame is normal for a new insructor to become confortable in the classroom?
I understand 100%. I'm always amazed, how if there is ever a conceptual concept that I am having a difficult time relaying to my students, I often find myself throwing it out to the other teachers at lunch time. They come up with some great real world examples the students can relate too.
Hi Susan,
Great to read your comments about how much you are enjoying being a teacher. It is a great opportunity to impact lives. You have a great philosophy about how an instructor should approach students. Keep up the good work. You are going to have a gret teaching career.
Gary
I to am a new instructor. I was a former student of the college I am teaching at. I never thought I would want to be a teacher, but am loving every minute of it. I am learning from my students as well as they are learning from me. I remind myself everyday that I was once in their position and treat them the way I wanted to be treated and give them as much encouragement as possible. I look to the other instructors who have been there longer and ask for their help whenever it is needed, which is sometimes on a daily basis and they are very willing to help. Just because you are the instructor doesn't mean you stop learning.
I agree with teaching is not for eveybody.
Hi Charlene,
To support your idea of teachers as students to, I saw a bumper sticker that says it all. "To Teach is to Learn Twice!" I thought it captured the essence for why many of us are teachers. We like to learn and share.
Gary
Good after noon chris. This jeff the new guy at uti you are correct in your statement in many ways it makes you analize yourself in different areas professionaly,knowledge,P.R. skills,management.It's amazing how you think you know alot in a familiar setting but "out of your comfort zone" so to speak you are humbled by your limited abilities and realize you yourself have a long way to go in these areas. But sometimes what you think are your short comings with alittle polishing will be an attribute. jeff
Some days you feel like a student too. In some ways you are. It helps you relate to them and how they are thinking & feeling.
Knowing yourself is key to being a new instructor so that you can work on the aspects you are weak in.
Perhaps the key is to not even think of it as "lecturing". Better then, to consider it as conversation. You're going to explain a topic in which you are knowledgeable to a party that has an interest in that subject, what could be easier?
Hi Charlene,
Lecturing is like everything else the more experience you have to easier it becomes. Just think of learning to ride a bike. Once the training wheels come off you are on your own, and it sounds like you are doing a great job.
Gary
Hi Lisa,
Great attitude. I know with such a positive outlook you will continue to develop as an educator. Welcome to education.
Gary
I have worked with students in the lab for several years but giving lectures is a new experience for me. It is proving to be quite a transition, scarey at first, but I am feeling more comfortable with each lecture. I do feel that I am making a difference with the students and that is making all of the hard work and effort worth it.
Adjusting from my former career to become an instructor is very challenging knowing that I can make a difference by educating my students is a wonderful feeling, I am always on the lookout for ways that I can improve as an instructor,and as an individual.
My first few weeks of teaching was difficult.
I knew the material being tought but was not good at discipline. I started to wonder if this was the right job for me. I seemed to take things personally
and it effected my performance in terms of "not causing an issue out of laziness" but soon realized that being consistantly hard but fair was best as to not 1 student was singled out. Once the students saw consistancy , they knew what to expext and thanked me later, therefore making me feel good about my descision to stay. Its been 6 months now and after seeing the results of my teachings and wide eyes of the newcomers, i feel good and want to continue, but definatly judge yourself seriously and decide sooner than later.
I agree with you Chris and must add as part of self assesment you need to now as an idividual and an instructor when you are in over your head and when it is time to call it quits.Teaching is not for eveybody.
Very true statement as a new instructor myself I can see first hand that there is some adjusting to be done. And I welcome any help/advise
