Never start teaching without taking teaching courses
Our students are smart. They can tell the difference between having experience in teaching and not having it. Knowlege for teaching in the subject is important but teaching skills has its own place.
Kudos Mr. Robert.
I have been teaching only a year now, and have really learned alot from my students, mainly what not to do.
I am greatful for courses like this and only wish I had taken a similar course before I began teaching.
Live and Learn.
Hi Michelle,
You make a good point about teaching adult students. The key to quality instruction is the ability to use "common sense" when delivering content. By integrating life experiences into teaching strategies that are effective a career college instructor will do well.
We can enhance our skills as professional educators by becoming a part of an ongoing personal development plan where we can learn about how to be more effective and efficient in our instruction.
Gary
Formal teacher training never hurts, but as adult education instructors, we know the gifts and prior life experiences that our students (and our fellow faculty) bring to the classroom without prior experience in that specific course/subject.
For example, in overseeing my faculty, I find that those who have trained others at a previous job or have formal education at an advanced degree level have many mentors and classroom experiences to draw from. Though some lack formal teacher training, they are well versed in what works and what doesn't with adult learners and many times overprepare for their course with extra teaching aids, articles to discuss in class if the session goes by quickly, etc. They are also eager to learn and listen to suggestions from peers and supervisors, sometimes more so than those with official training who are locked into what they have learned in the classroom about teaching.
But once again, it rarely hurts to have more education.
The students are smarter, I believe much more so than when we were there age. Their background / technologies available to them have given them instant information with no skills on how to use it. That is what we are for. They may be able to tell when there is a new instructor but every one of us has been new at some time. As another responder said (whom I can't read as I am in reply mode) it "is in the preparation". As I have become more seasoned in this profession I find the better classes and smoother running courses have been the ones I took the time to prepare for. We have been hired because we have the knowledge. It is with time we develop our skills. It is with preparation we can have fun.
it's combination of knowledge of the course, enough training and teaching courses, skills and experiences
I will agree to a certain extent. Having the knowledge to teach the course is very important but teaching experience is something that will come with "seat time" in the class room. New instructors will hone their skill every time they stand in front of the class and will learn from different teaching strategies and techniques.
this is all about being perpard for the lesson
