Hi Ryan,
Great examples of professional development. I wish you the best in your instructional delivery efforts.
Gary
Real world experiences seem to be easier to provide given the media available. I use many current magazines and books for my writing class.
Also, I have my students maintain a 3X5 notebook for their pocket. They will need to have the daily class projects written in them before they come to class. That way even in production or critique they can write notes. I have given them test question in the critique as well.
I do make it a part of their uniform. I reward those who took notes by allowing them to use it on their practical. I do not tell them until they are in the class. I do think word has gotten around school.
Andrew
The best way for me to improve myself as an instructor is to have a good understanding of my strengths and weaknesses. By doing so, I can take steps to develop my professional skills. These steps could include: getting feedback from other instructors, attending seminars and workshops, and reading relevant literature.
This is so true. We have end of term feedback digitally on our portal, but often do not respond to that as quickly as a more personal feedback. An instructor that I respect greatly once told me that he has his students fill out his own short questionare, midterm. In it he basically asked them if they felt they were getting the most out of their educational experience with him. It serves as a fresh tool that he has in his hand. He is able to read them and respond accordingly. Does anyone else have any creative tactics like these on getting feedback?
I know that I can do better at presenting lecture material. I really liked the idea of the "Tree Diagram". I had not heard of this before though I have employed crude variations of this without recognizing it. I tend to deviate on tangents at times and I can see that this technique could help me to stay better focused on the material and keep the lectures fresh and efficient.
I could also use some of the motivating techniques to help enhance my instructional style. Specifically, I need to create a better defined expectation of success for specific assignments and in-class projects. This will help students to achieve learning success through a more focused experience with the assignment or task.
Through continuing education and student evaluations.
I can further develop, refine and enhance my instructional style through continuing education and using student evaluations as a barometer of my performance.
Make the class sessions as relevant as possible by bringing in real world experiences and examples.
Hi Jon,
Good use of student feedback in your planning. By seeking input you are able to be reflective of the needs of your students at that point in time and make changes as they are needed.
Gary
Hi Robert,
Thank you for the comments about begging, borrowing and "stealing" of ideas, strategies and activities that can be used in one's classroom. We use the CASE model at my university. Copy And Share Everything. A model much like your copycat/rat method. Keep up the good work.
Gary
I use like to encourage the student to do their best always. I usually show the students the basics, have them practice the basics, and show them where they can take it. I realize that we live in a sports figures, and music ikons. I like to encourage and motivate my students by asking them the question, what are you doing to achieve your Superbowl ring, or your Grammy Award. Encouraging them through this can motivate the students to the benefits of the instruction and the values of the class and the instructor. Remember this can fall back on you and you will need to serve as that role model on this as well.
Knowing students likes and dislikes regarding a certain area may help.
A class discussion or an anonymous survey will allow you to get feedback on what aspirations, likes and concerns they might have. It also allows a nice intro or breaking the ice moment.
Be sure to address those areas as you move forward.
I support what you're doing, and I think we all in some way do it as well. I've always considered myself a packrat as well as a copycat (can you mix the 'rat' and 'cat' metaphors at all??). I'll even go elbow-deep into a garbage can next to a photocopier to pull out another document or assignment that looks intriguing or useful. And I stockpile everything. When I taught at a brick-and-mortar university as a grad student, I always picked up examples of syllabi, assignment sheets, rubrics, anything I saw left around like that. I had thick, three-ring binders full of divided sections (Rubrics, Assignment Sheets, Schedules, Syllabi, Misc.) And yeah, I picked elements and ideas from whatever I could. Even sitting around in conversation with other instructors, we always traded ideas back and forth.
(As I side note, I was always tremendously flattered whenever the reverse happened and I saw my documents and ideas being copied or emulated by other instructors that I respected, who might not even have known they were copying my material because they were copying somebody who was copying somebody who was copying me. It let me know that I was creating useful documents, effective assignments, useful activities, etc.)
I spend time discussing new techniques with my fellow instructors plus refelct mindfully upon how I was presented information when I was a student.
Hi Sarah,
There isn't a thing wrong with being a "copycat". This is how instruction improves since we all do it. In our university we operate under the CASE method. "Copy And Share Everything" Everyone benefits from sharing.
Gary
More personal attention based on learning styles
Since I'm a "social' learner, spending time with fellow instructors and trying some of the things that work in their classrooms has been very helpful for me. I also get ideas when I sub for other instructors. Am I a shameless copcat? Yes, but I only steal what works for me and I modify other techniques.
Hi Lori,
You make a good point about needing to write down some critical observations you have made along the way. Memory has a way of fading or at least changing but with the notes the recall of how the course went will and what you want to do next time will be clear and accurate.
Gary
Hi Yolanda,
Good strategies. These methods will help to get the students more engaged in the learning process because they will be invested in what is going on in the class.
Gary
