Morgan,
This is a great professional development program for yourself. You expand your confidence and skills as a demonstrator and your students get the benefit of having the level of the demonstrations lifted.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As a Chef our skills improve with repetition. I challenge myself to do more demonstrations and to explain techniques in more than 1 ways. This helps me to improve and to reach more students.
RICHARD,
Observing other instructors is a good way to expand your expertise and knowledge of how to deliver content. Also, interviewing experienced educators is a good way to learn about strategies and activities they have used that are effective. The key is to listen and then apply and your instructional abilities will grow.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I would like to take classes on my teaching weaknesses by learning from someone with more experience and more positive motivation.
Jenalee,
You have a good professional development plan going for yourself. Each of the components will help you to expand your skill sets and become the effective instructor you want to be.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Being a new teacher myself I find that the best way I can expand my instructional abilities is by sitting in my colleagues lectures and demonstrations as they are great role models to follow. Also, attending field relevant conferences, staying up to date on technologies, and being current on new information in my career.
Francine,
This is what being a master teacher is all about. Striving to find a way to connect the content to the student in a way that enables him or her to understand and internalize the needed information. I commend you for your effort and the impact you are having on the lives of your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like to mix it up using standard text and practical applications to follow. If I see students are struggling I usually ask them how can I help you to develop another way to apply this knowledge. I will go over course material, give demonstrations, ask leading questions so students can think about what they have learned and use different examples so they can start thinking outside the box. I may ask them to select pictures, photo's of before and after. How to get from point A to point B with the knowledge they should have acquired for the material learned. I also like the students to look on the internet for topics they want to learn more about. We have to always be searching for knowledge and new interests. Students seem to like researching topics and also bring back to class a new perspective on a subject. We all learn something new and it puts a nice spin on class assignments. I always tell them you can learn a new way of doing something and it does not mean that there is only one way to accomplish something. I want my students to be motivated by their search for knowledge and be able to think on their feet and figure things out.
Tina,
Good way to "read" your students and get a feel for their knowledge and skill levels. As you say as a result of this information you are able to make adjustments as needed to keep the learning moving forward.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Jack,
Great to hear how the course content has been of help to you. I am excited for you as you bring your career experience to the classroom and lab to help prepare the next generation in your field.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The way I have learned to expand my instructional abilities is open communication with my student.
On the first day of class I have the student introduce themselves and let me know what they are expecting from the class.
Doing this exercise help me become aware the type of students that are in my class.
I usually start my semester with power points and question. If I see the grades are low or not what I expect I will change my teaching style by challenging the student to participate with through a "jeopardy game", or through a group project..
After working for 26 years in the field as CADD/draftsman I fairly recently started my new career as an instructor. I just wanted to say thank-you for this course. The information has been both informative and confirming. The strategy's given here will be most helpful to me and in turn be helpful to my students.
Thanks,
Jack
Dina,
Good list and a great way to expand both your knowledge and expertise. The results will be an even more impact on the lives of your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Expanding your instructional abilities is important, you can do this by keeping current in your field, taking CEE courses online, learn from other instructors. There are many ways these are just a few.
Michael,
I commend you for your willingness to improve your instructional delivery. The method you chose was a good one and the result as you indicated very valuable. Taking what you learn and incorporating that information into your future instructional planning will result in you being a more effective and efficient instructor. I wish you continued teaching success!
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As a fairly new adjunct instructor, one of the most productive ways I have found to improve my teaching abilities was to invite one of our more senior instructors, whom I consider a friend, to sit in on several of my lectures and provide candid feedback on my performance. His feedback was very frank and extremely valuable. He critiqued my style, presentation material, and responses to student questions. He also pointed out subject areas in which I appeared less confident, so I could better prepare for subsequent classes. This was outside of our formal evaluation process and solely for my professional development. Although it was initially a bit bruising to my ego, it was exactly the feedback I needed.
Tammie,
With this advanced planning comes more confidence as well so it is great when you can walk into a classroom knowing your are ready to deliver your content and engage your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Some ways to expand instructional abilities may include planning your lectures ahead of time. So that you have a good grasp on the materials. Also, being up to date on the latest laws and state requirements could help to expand your abilities as an instructor as well.
There are many ways to expand instructional abilities. I have found observation has been one of the most beneficial methods for me. I have had the ability to watch other instructors. I feel this helps to give instructors a better visual and also helps to trade ideas on teaching abilities. I also have found that watching others gives us the ability to pick out the good and bad. Being able to decipher between the two we have the ability to bring the good to our instructional abilities.
Landis,
Like your ideas for expanding your professional expertise as an educator. All them will expand your knowledge base as well as your expertise.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
