Hi Steven,
Instructors need to stay current in their field if they are going to bring the latest greatest to their students. By being current it also helps instructors with their confidence because they know they are fulfilling their obligation to be reflective of the industry.
Gary
Hi Jacqueline,
There are many benefits of these types of assignments as you well know. The one that really comes to the forefront for me is "ownership". The students really own the material as a result of doing research on it and then sharing it with others. This really helps in building their confidence and motivation.
Gary
I believe that the best approach to my industry teaching ability lies with continued eduaction and experience in the field on a regular basis. Culinary Arts requires current applicable skills in order to translate new ideas, technologies and experiences to students.
I enjoy reading the research the students do on the artworks we focus on for a specific era/culture. Often they come up with new points and/or an extensive amount of educational information that is just fun for everyone to know about regarding a specific art masterpiece. Whenever I make such a discovery in my evaluations of the assignments, I try to ask the student author to share the paper with the class. (These are short papers with illustrations and prints of the artwork in focus.) In this way the student who has "discovered" new material becomes an expert able to share his/her discovery with the class. This makes for building the class as a unit, for often others are inspired to try to be the next one asked to share with the class.
My instructional style is to be prepared for the lec/lab discuss revelant topics/quests and to engage the students interactively with the topics and instructor.
Hi Dennis,
Good warning and advice for instructors. You are right on with your comments. We need to make sure the students take responsibility for their learning and future. We can provide support but we can't be enablers because if we are we are doing them a dis-service.
Gary
I like the idea of having both instructors and more senior students mentoring. I look to my past instructors for guidence and current collegues as well.
Whatever you do, be careful you don't "catch" your students' stress! It's easy to get caught-up in the sometimes (often?)-crazy world that is the college student's life. Take care of yourself, get as much help from peers (mentors, if available) as possible. I remember, when I was doing mental health therapy a bunch of years ago (before I got into the field of education), one of my mentors told me that if began to feel resentment toward my clients, that was a tipoff that I was working harder than they. Allow the students to take responsibility for themselves (too often, we educators get into the caretaking mode, and end up working harder than the students). Keep up the good work, and good luck!
Hi Naomi.
'Sounds like you're flexible, which I think is very important, as an instructor (never bore your students). Yes, I agree, students are always teaching us something(s), eh? Isn't learning wonderful!
Hi Eulalia,
Welcome to the wonderful profession of teaching. I wish you much success. You have survived your first course so it will be easier from here on out. Keep up your excitement and stay focused on how you can help your students be successful and you will enjoy a great career in teaching.
Gary
Hi Dennis,
Sounds like you really enjoy teaching and sharing your knowledge of your field. Keep up this great attitude because as we all know excitement is catching.
By establishing a supportive and comfortable atmosphere you are helping your students to see that learning can and is fun and that they will gain much from the class in the coming weeks. This helps to keep student retention at a high level.
Gary
Hi Teresa,
You have a great attitude concerning what it means to be a professional. You have incorporated your idea of what it means to be a professional into both areas of your life, your nursing career and your teaching career. This incorporation gives the students a dual model of someone they should be looking to and reflecting on how they to can be a professional in the field of nursing.
Gary
I utilize numerous techniques to improve myself. I learn from my peers. I also pay close attention whenever I am in any setting where there is a speaker, even just watching the television. I utilize the opportunities that the school has provided for me. I even querry and encourage my students to give feedback or ideas as we go through the course. I have a very good rapport with my students in that I only expect from them what I expect from myself. We keep the classroom in a professional and respectful manner. We work hard yet allow some time for fun too.
I am a brand new teacher. My first class just ended last week. As we communicated back and forth with my students, I felt their rushed schedules against the fast-paced session. Most students had many questions while others had family issues. With this type of setting, student mentors would have been a key element in lowering their school-related stress and achieving their learning success.
I'm new to this forum-style, here. I like motivating my students. As an Adjunct Instructor, teaching only 1-2 courses each week, I have anywhere from 20-50 students, ranging in age from 20-50's. This means there are many different styles of learning, as well as levels of motivation. I like to stay positive, and make learning fun! People learn best when they are relaxed and enjoying themselves. Obviously, major exams and term papers are not exactly fun- but, generally, I like to keep it light in my classroom, and act as a kind of "cheerleader" for my students.
By the way, it's good to be here.
It's interesting, because I have realized that while I am always sincere in my delivery of the material to the students, I do feel like an actor. I use my voice, and body language, and personality to convey the emphasis on the important points as the iformation is given to the students, and then I question them shortly after to see if they understood where I had placed the emphasis. If they don't understand I try changing my explanation and my delivery again, by employing at different part of my personality. For example, I might revert to an analogy or story with a different emotion attached to it, but the same point is then repeated. I think that because of what my students teach me by their response, or sometimes lack of response, my instuctional style is always changing.
Oh, so very true and a valid point that I think some people need to be reminded of from time to time. It is easy to fall into the trap of being personal rather than professional when interacting with others who may also be your coworkers/ associates.
I think one of the best ways to improve on your instructional style in quick order, is to have another individual video record your presentation to include audio. Form the review of the film, you can pick out where you need to make improvements in such areas as appearence, mannerisms, speech, etc.
I am new to this class and forum but one thing I have learned so far is that is important to maintain a "professional" attitude/appearance with my students. I am a clinical nursing instructor and I work very closely with five students in the clnical setting. I am also working in a hosptial were I have been employed for 17 years so it is easy for me to fall in the "casual" setting with my coworkers and friends. I have had to be cautious that I am maintaining that "professional" appearance with my students. I love working with them at the bedside and being able to teach them the skills they need to succeed in the nursing profession.
I like the idea collaborating with the other instructors . Thanks for sharing this Barbara.
