Hi Maggie,
One thing you could do is to have the students "shadow" someone that is in their career area and write a report about their experiences. Have them interview people in the community that are using the skills you teach and then have them report on their findings. The key point is to help them see how the content you are teaching will be used in their lives and how applications of the content can be made in their lives outside of class. Tie your content directly into the courses that are offered in your college skill areas will help to make the content real as well.
Gary
First, after 18 years in the class room I have my Instruction pretty well established. I don't think the way I conduct class would fit into any of your generic descriptions. I simply closely monitor my students and make adjustments that enable them to succede.If I find a student struggling, I will address him alone and make suggestions relating to improving his performance. If I have a student that is doing fine, I give him a "good job" and "let him run".
I guess my Instructional style would be "Individual Based"
Hi John,
Relevance plays a major part of the instructional style in that it reflects your understanding of how the subject can be used in the lives of the students. Your instructional style should show the students how they can internalize the content and make it a part of their skill set that enables them to be successful in their career field.
Gary
I am also a visual/auditory learner, even though some people suggest that they aren’t, they are. By having the learner video taped performing a task for the first time then video taping their task at the end of the class after practice they can see that they did learn more than they thought. I believe this method could be used for all type of learners. Who doesn’t like to see positive results?
teach like your clothes are on fire, it captures the students attention and helps them retain information.
I have spent about as long in the hospitality business, both front and back house. I like to temper the truth with humour. I share my experiences both good and not so good, but always with a learning aspect to it.
Well said John, it is great to be current with the culture and trend. If we try and stay on the same page with what is relevant in today's day in age, our style will be considered cutting edge.
Hi Patrick,
Many students have a hard time making the leap from theory (the classroom/lab) to real life. Your advice and application format helps them to do just that. The more relevancy and application that you can give them the better prepared they will be to be those good chefs.
Gary
Hi Richard,
I wish you the best with your new endeavor. Online teaching as you know has many rewards but it does involve new approaches to getting students involved in the course. Look around and talk with other instructors as you develop your online teaching style. This kind of input will be valuable to you as you ramp up for your courses.
Gary
Hi Dr. Amy,
Thanks for sharing this strategy for course improvement. Another secondary part of this effort is that it also helps to keep instructors fresh in relation to the course. Trying new things and adding content allows instructors to be creative and this in turns keeps their interest up. A bored instructor brings a bored attitude to the class.
No body benefits when that happens.
Gary
Hi Luke,
Your method is a simple and effective part of professional development. I am sure that each time you teach the course it gets better as a result of your willingness to seek input and improvement.
Gary
Hi Alicia,
You are right about video taping being such a simple but effective way for instructors to see how they are presenting the content and themselves to students. We all need to do this ever so often to keep us fresh and on top of our game.
Gary
I am a butcher, and have 30 years in the business. I motivate my students with the truth about the working world.I also tell them they are in school to learn and make mistakes.
You have to develop an instructional style that is comfortable for you and is compatible with the instructional setting. In addition, you have to develop a style of instruction that is consistent with the needs of the students and the class requirements. If you prefer the lecture method and you are teaching a laboratory class there is going to be a problem.
Alex,
I agree with you and would add that nonverbal communication is an important part of self-awareness - - an absolute must have for instructors. Have you ever watched an instructor deliver content to a completely disengaged group? It's completely painful isnÕt it? One must ask: Does the instructor not notice the disengagement? Does the instructor notice it but not care? Does the instructor notice the disengagement but not know how effectively change the delivery format?
Instructors who can read studentsÕ body language and adjust instructional delivery mid-stream are the most dynamic instructors around. They are also the instructors who place the primary focus on learning, not teaching.
Since I am a highly visual/auditory learner, I videotape students introducing themselves. Next, I download the video to my computer and create a slide show to study their names. Being able to call them by name immediately sets the tone of how important they are to me, and it also allows me move quickly into my management role as a learning coach who demonstrates a professional and personal investment in their success.
Well, I seek to be contemporaneous with regard to my students. I must be relevant. As such, I stay current with the culture of my student-learners. Sometimes a "real-time" example or illustrand of the point I am trying to make helps the students to ascertain the concepts. Teaching Psychology and Communications places certain demands on me to remain connected to the larger world and bring that world dynamically to my students.
What role does relevance play in your instructional style?
Indeed. I think the video would be a great tool to analyze your particular style through your own eyes.
I'd like to use video tape tools as well. I don't think any of us can truly know how our delivery method is being perceived.
I have to go ahead and anyalise the class first on day 1 of a new term as each class is different and so are the students, it is like judging a book by its cover. They all come to the table from different cultures and many different personal issues. As an instructor we need to be aware of these and make adjustments for each individual student. An instructor needs to make themselves available to the students also needs to deliver good,clear & consise levels of communication so the students are on the same wave length as the instructor. Classes should have a level of humor and be interactive so as not to be mundane to the students. Adult learners have a shorter attention span as to younger learners and this needs to be accounted for in the style & method that you instruct. On average a adult learner absorbs information in 20minutes there after they begin to miss information. An instructor needs to make the lesson plan short and punchy.
