Instrustor entusiasm is important to carry over to the students to keep them interested
My students enjoy looking at many Patisserie and Baking periodicals from Europe. By bringing this type of information into the classroom, I help to bridge the gap beteween North America and Europe.
Our program is very European based and oftentimes
if the students have not visited any countries in Europe, the have no sense of what other parts of the world have to offer. I really do like using many really life examples of when I was in the pastry industry, it helps build credibilty and increases the student's attention.
Watching other tenored instructors deliver there lecture or material.
speaking with a colleauge who teaches or has taught the same subject.
Read piblications or watch on line professors and how the teach there subject matter.
Have another professor observe the class and give feed back
One way I like to refine and enhance my instructional style is by reading my student evaluations. I really take into consideration the information provided. I make copies of them so every semester I can go back and re-read the feedback of what I do well and not so well. This helps me improve in areas that I need to.
Basemeh
I appreciate the opportunity to attend pedagogy forums at annual writers' conferences. Also, I make sure to note what is working or not working in class as it relates to my addendum and to make changes immediately for the next quarter.
While I can be a funny guy in informal situations, I find myself horribly dry, unfunny and boring when lecturing as an instructor. I think I may take myself, and the material, too seriously (even though I will poke fun at myself whenever possible). I'd like to work more humor into my lessons, so as to make the information more enjoyable to listen to.
I find that the more i can relate the subject matter to everyday current events, including pop culture, the more motivated the student becomes
Teach from personal experience. I show photos and share stories from my travels abroad. Play dvds on subject matter. Use humor as a motivator.
Teach from personal experiences. Travel and cultural exchange. Show photos/film from trips abroad.
In teaching Restaurant Guest Service, I periodically take the opportunity to "shadow" a student. This allows me to occasionally discover new scenarios to present to the entire class that I may not have anticipated on my own.
Hi Lloyd,
Well said. Knowing yourself gives you a point of department from which you can plan your content and delivery methods. Your instructional style will become refined as a result of your knowing your abilities and aptitudes.
Gary
Knowing yourself and your capablities is what will be of the most importantance. This will guide you to knowing the subject more, focus in on the sudents as well as the other traits for Instructional styles. This will also help guide your profeessional growth.
Hi Brenda,
Each instructor has to develop his/her personna in the classroom. If one finds it effective then your style has been secured.
Gary
i watch other instructors and borrow ideas and technicques from them and then morph them into something that works for me.
in my instructional style I am very vocal.
I tell it like it is and my students love the
no nonsense approach
Hi Charles,
As an instructor you need to have Plans B and C and even D available in your instructional toolbox. You never know, as you say when you will need that back up plan to keep moving forward.
Gary
I find food service publications keep me informed on techniques and "what's hot" in our industry.
Also, student survyes keep me aware of just how well I am doing in getting information to the students.
Working with other instructors gives me invaluable insight on (delivery) techniques, 'props' and organization.
I read industry journals and periodicals to stay current with industry trends. I believe that this gives me credibility in the eyes of my students. I also audit classes taught by other instructors to see how my content compares to others. Learning from the experience of others helps me to refine my content. I also pay attention to delivery style to see how students react and what keeps them engaged.
Yes, but you need to be able to adapt from class to class. What works this week may not work next week (students may be tired, coming back form vacation, or in a different mood based on other events). You alwaays need a "plan B" sometimes a "plan C..."
Charles
Techniques that can be applied for a new instructor, such as myself, could be the inclusion of previous instruction methods that reinforced a topic or skill utilized successfully to date.
Instruction also includes assessing a class for specific teaching needs and including all types of learning modes, i.e., visual-hearing-hands/on. This approach will provide a wide range of data input for all types of learning requirements.
I believe that anybody can learn anything if given the information in an understandable manner and adequate time to assimilate it.
