As the Department Chair I must observe the enitre faculty numerous times through out the year. Because of this I am exposed to many diffrent styles. I believe through exposure to multiple styles one can pick and choose best practices and develop an individual instructional style.
Hi Karen,
Lesson plans are an effective way to guide you through the lessons you want to present. Being a veteran teacher you know what you want and need to accomplish with your students. So in effect you have lesson plans you just haven't put them on paper. Your college may require them and if so you can provide them by putting down what you intend to cover for that week. As to whether it will enhance your instructional style I don't know since you have already developed your style of the years. I would check with your school and see what they require in terms of lesson plans and then provide them so you can receive good marks all the way across on your evaluations.
Some schools require lesson plans as a result of accreditation and state certification requirements and this may be why your school is asking this of you.
Personally, I have always developed lesson plans so I know what I want to do and when I want to do it. I have not found them uncomfortable to use because I know I can make changes anytime I want and need to for my students.
Gary
Hi Erica,
This is where the saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" comes in. By seeing pictures of things that they have never seen before helps form a mental image from which they can then develop skills.
Gary
I would like to come up with some daily quizzes techniques. Whereas I can ask a question in the first five minutes of class, and those that arrive on time will benefit from the points. I find it difficult to have students arrive to class ontime.
I have been teaching for a number of years and most of my planning is done in my head. I have never worked anywhere where a lesson plan had to be turned in so I have never done one on paper. Like I said, it is all in my head and it works very effectively. I always get high marks from students and dept chairs in instructor effectiveness surveys.
I feel my style of teaching and ability to guide the students would be hampered by sticking to a specific, unbending framework. At my newest school's evaluation, I was marked down for not turning in a lesson plan although that was the only negative comment.
Will it really help me refine and enhance my instructional style or just take time away from my students?
I teach a lot of advanced pastry techniques, some of which the students have never seen. This is changing my presentatons as I have moved toward more visual aids. Most of the students seem to respond well to pictures since it helps them to understand the requirements for the upcoming project. I think it really encourages them when they see exapmles of past student's work especially. This is probably because the pictures not only give them ideas, but they also inspire them since those students had never done this before and they succeeded. This also helps to change their minds about the requirments making all of their projects look the same.
Hi Stephanie,
Good way to bring a variety of learning strategies into your course. By having the students some individual research you are showing relevancy outside of the classroom. Sometimes as you well know students cannot see any application of math concepts outside of the classroom. This way they are learning and applying what they have acquired as new knowledge.
Gary
I agree. The technology today has created a more visual / audible influenced population.
Hi Missy,
You are right this is a great way to see how you present yourself to the class. This method can give you a realistic picture of all the things you are doing and how you can do them even better.
Gary
Hi Joseph,
Isn't that a good feeling to know as the class starts that you are ready to go and that you aren't worrying about chasing something down or some other activity that causes stress.
Gary
As a math instructor I strive to make the learning atmosphere comfortable and safe for the students to maximize their learning potential. During class time, I incorporate group work so that learners may experience multiple perspectives on a problem. In addition, I enjoy using technology to help students learn how to learn. Creating assignments that require the use of the internet and other resources allows students to learn how to locate relevant materials for a specified assignment.
I've been spending time watching other instructors to see what new ideas and techniques I can pick up from them.
Hi Vallene,
Thank you for sharing your experience and perspective on working all students. This is critical for student success. They must feel respected and supported if they are going to be successful.
Gary
I like to make sure that I am comfortable with my environment and try to be over prepared for the students before they come in. Doing this makes me realx and my demo(s) flow nicely.
I think having a video tape or audio taken of your own lecture or demo, then watched or listened to afterwards, can be a great way to see ones strengths and weakness and encouragement for oneself to try different deliverance of content.
I feel that I can enhance my instructional style by offering varying examples of what sucessful assignments look like. Especially in GEN ED writing classes, where there is likely more than one right answer to a question, students need to know that there many good ways to approach a problem. I can further develop this technique by observing other instructors.
Hi Jessica,
Using this format will also help with students receiving information when they need it. The integration of mini-lectures at appropriate times helps students to see relevancy to what they are learning.
Gary
Hi Emma,
Yes, it will. The connection will build over the course. If students find that you are a supportive and understanding instructor they will strive to meet the requirements of the course and bring success to themselves so that you will be proud of them.
Gary
Having been a professor for decades as well as a school administrator, I recognize there is always something new each day to be learned from students of all ages. I continue to respect each individual, encourage questions and find ways to connect with the changing dynamics of the classroom
I have found, as been discused, the Babysitter/Pal don'ts prove to be effective. More importantly,I need to make sure that I'm completely consistant in the manner I handle which and very student. AS best as we all try, I can look back a think "the last time a learning experience like this occured, the was a slight veration in the way it was handled."
