Developing as an instructor
In my opinion, a key important part of developing as an instructor is to gain experience in different instructional classroom and lab environments.Remember your students want the information that you their instructor are able to provide them. Remember to have fun and display your passion for the subject matter to your students.
I like to use real life experience in my teaching, but I find that it varies with the class.
Some like alot, and some get bored with it very quickly.
You have to "read" the class, and either extent the subject, or move on to the next.
This is called, thinking on you feet.
I agree as well. I think one of the things that earns you respect from your class is being on the "cutting edge" of information.
In my classes I often, after returning from a conference or reviewing a journal or magazine, come to my students with some infomation that I have gleened or learned and attempt to put into practice. My opinion is that sharing this with students, if the subject is on-topic and/or appropriate, and is internalized by the students, that this act, even more then the information itself, increases students personal sense of self-worth and professionalism.
If it is a methodology or module, I ask the students to write a review, which becomes almost as valuble an overall assessment tool for the students themselves, as it does for being information, tool or methodology. Further it is culturally acceptable within the student community, for the most part, and is called "Beta Testing" in computer oriented slang.
I think that overall, bringing new methods and information to students in a timely manor, enhances learmning opportunities, student involvement and overall interest by students in the course materials. It is my contention that adding these methods and information is an effective means of developing as an Instructor.
I also agree. The methods that have worked well for me is going to school to keep updated. It puts me as a student and lets me see how the student feels being a student. This also allows me to see different teaching styles and methods, I can use to get the point of the subject across for my students.
I agree 100%. I have also found it helpful to attend in-services, subscribe to applicable journals and by utilizing an informal or formal mentor.
Hi David,
I really like your comments and approach to teaching. You hit upon a key point about being willing to listen and learn from others, including students.
We have to remember also as we gain experience in our teaching to be willing to share with the new teachers, since senior teachers were willing to share with us when we were new to the profession.
Gary
When I first started as an instructor what I found to be invaluable was the mentoring that I received from my fellow instructors. As an automotive instructor I tell my students that when they graduate if they are lucky someone will take them under their wing and help guide them in their early days. The one thing that must go is your ego. You have to be open to other people's ideas and be willing to incorporate them into your teaching style. At the end of the course I always ask my students what I did right and more importantly what they feel needed improvement I have gained many valuable insights that way. I strive to learn from my mistakes and to make every day better than the last one.
Hi James,
Would be glad to help you expand your expertise as an instructor. I'm not quite clear as to what will help you grow. If you can give me some additional insight I will be glad to help.
In the meantime you might want to do some online research about learning preferences (styles) or the differences between abstract and concrete learning. What I have found is that by reading about areas such as this I can transfer that new information into my teaching strategies and development additional ways of becoming a more effective teacher.
Gary
I believe this 100%. You must observe other instructors and thier styles of teaching, as well as evalute your own teaching style.
It is extremly important to show your students the passin you have for this job, as well as make thier learning experience fun, but still educational.
I agree with you 100% I think we need to have fun in what we do. I think it flows over to our students. I do think our time is our time if we neeed time to improve or learn new things we should not be held back by time. the "bulb" I would love to see more "safe" help to help me grow as a instructor.Can you give me a direction that might help me grow? Is there an outside source that maybe helpful?
I love seeing the "bulb" going off is a great feeling!
To me, a key important part of developing as an instructor is not only knowlege, experience but also have good heart, which means I would like to share with them all what I know and want to see them suceed. Alway try to make them understading well problem and know how to solve them as in reality. Because not just in the books, but they have to know how to apply in their real life.
