Hi Abraham,
Well said. This is what keeps us coming back to the classroom, the opportunity to impact lives and make a difference for people and their careers.
Gary
Adults come to your class with a conscious need for learning, your passion and mastery in providing them the right path towards achieving their goal is what makes them feel successful , thus becoming your greatest reward.
Hi Holly,
I am a big fan of case studies as well. They do all the things you listed and really help to refine the problem solving skills of my students.
Gary
Hi Wendy,
Great example of why I like teaching. Students enroll in college to receive and education in their career field. They are surprised when they find out they have to study and work at developing their skills. This is the "Duh" factor at work. What did they expect? In many cases it sure wasn't work.
Gary
Hi Kirsi,
You are right about the students feeling involved when their voices are heard. Feedback lets you stay on top of the course and make any changes that need to be made to keep the course on target and focused.
Gary
Hi Brian,
You have outlined a very good professional development plan. I teach nigh classes as well so field trips are not an option for me either, but I do use guest speakers a lot. Guest speakers make what I have covered in the class "real" since they come from the field. The students start to realize that what I am teaching them is included because it is essential information as backed up by the guest speakers.
Gary
Hi Amy,
I hope you get the opportunity to observe instructors in these various settings. A real help I have found when doing these types of observations is to have a check sheet where I look for certain things that will help me. Example, I want to see how they call the class to order, take roll and get started. With the check list I have made up I don't get sidetracked if something comes up and I miss the reason why I am observing.
Gary
Hi Tasha,
Way to go. You are on the right track to develop into an outstanding educator. Using humor and the personal touch is a way to show your students you care about them and their success. Sounds like you are making Radiology an enjoyable field of study in spite of the perceptions of it being hard.
Gary
Case studies always work really well to engage the students! They have a more emotional response and see the "real world" application of what they are learning.
I like to incorporate humor and story lines in day to day lectures.
I also teach an Imaging class. The first couple weeks of information does seem to bring panic. If its not the information, its the realization that maybe I need to study for this class after all. Which happens after the first test. Once that happens you see the light bulbs come on. Relating it to the real world and how they will play a part really helps.
I can take training classes to learn about new software and hardware I can use for teaching in a different way. Try some different ways of passing along the knowledge besides lecturing. I'd like to think of some good field trips to take my students on also.
I like to incorporate feedback from the students. They are also motivated when their voice is heard in planning and directing the course. KM
I strive to bring as many experiences from practice into the classroom as time permits. Unfortunately, most of the classes that I teach are at night which does not lend itself well to going on field trips. I have taken my day classes on field trips and they appreciated the opportunity and experience. Perhaps I could have one or more guest lecturer speak briefly and answer questions each term. I know that when I was in school, it always helped motivate me when I was able to see the "light at the end of the tunnel."
Additionally, I will make it a point to observe more seasoned faculty, especially the really tough one who receives high praise from every student of his with which I have ever spoken!
I would like to observe successful instructors. I like to incorporate "stories" about patient situations to illustrate concepts and have received much positive feedback from students and colleagues about this approach. I would be interested in observing that methodology by others or similar styles. I would also like to observe instructors with large classes and how they engage the students.
I would like to become more comfortable with technology and using it in the classroom. I feel like I have a great base that helps many types of learners, but I am consistently amazed at what some technologies can do, and how they could benefit students. It is a case of educating the educator!
Hi Karen,
A great example of a true professional. Self reflection and a professional development plan will help you to progress in your teaching excellence. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Dr. Meers,
At the present time, I'm looking for new ways to do exactly that. Thus far, I've found open; straight forward communication to be a very key factor. I also incorporate a little humor to my teaching style. I've found this loosens the overall tension and stress with learning Radiology. A lot of my students come with the predetermined misconception that Radiology is so hard. The terminology and Physics related to the course cirriculum initially confirms their fears. However, I quickly annihilate that assumption by verbally articulating the material in ways that they better understand and sharing my own personal experiences within the clinic as a Limited Scope Technician.
As a nursing instructor, I find that reflection and evaluation (both professional and personal) are key elements to enhancing my instructional style. Without either of these, I don't believe I would achieve the outcomes I have developed for myself. They elevate my teaching to a higher standard.
Hi Michael,
You are doing all of the right things concerning how to offer variety and inclusion for your students. When you have a difficult time getting students involved you can assign them certain topics to lead the discussion in class or to report out on a case study. This will help to draw out the more shy students because they have some time to prepare their content rather than having to speak off the top of their head.
Gary
