I feel that the best way to enhance your instructional style is to continually take professional development courses and be open to new methods of presenting material to your class. I am always looking for ways that I can continue to break the subject matter down so that I can increase the level of student comprehension.
Lori Benilous
I always read the student comments and see if there are trends on where I could improve. I continue to take any classes or trainings available about different teaching styles and methods. I also watch the teachers I have to see what works for them and if that would also work for me. I watch student responses in class and try to adjust when necessary.
This is my first quarter in the instructor role. It is certainly more challenging then I had thought. Although I feel a sense of confidence in front of the students, it is not reflected in my instructional style. The other day I received my first evaluation from my students. I am embarrassed to say that I did not score very well. The survey results will assist me with becoming a better instructor. Observing other instructors in the classroom will also be helpful.
Hi Hilda,
Good model to use and it helps to build interaction between the new and veteran nurses. This way they can earn the respect of each other as well as enhance the learning for both.
Gary
Dr Meers,
I also find this very effective when teaching new and veteran nurses on courses like ACLS and PALS (advanced life support classes for adults and children that involve science-based knowledge and highly technical skills. I team up the novice nurses with the experienced ones. The novice nurses benefit from the knowledge and skills of the veteran nurses.
What's great about teaching nursing students, are that the theory and skills they are learning are applicable on day one of their employment. However I would like to enhance my instructional style with adding the healthcare standards, and best practices for positive and quality patient outcomes that are being adopted by the healthcare industry for students to be informed about the current regulations.
Hi Lauren,
"Reading" the students is a critical part of teaching success. You are doing that throughout the class session as evidenced by your forum comments. This way you can target your instruction and provide the support your students need to be engaged and focused on learning.
Gary
I like my teaching style as it's a combination of all of the teachers I've enjoyed throughout my life. In order to make sure I'm refining and enhancing I watch and listen to my class carefully. After we spend time on the first day getting to know each other, I'm able to read their body language. If they let out a horrible sigh or roll their eyes at me, I know I'm moving off track (not to say they dictate the classroom or assignments) and their feedback is what helps me figure out what style to use with that particular class.
Hi Jillian,
What subject(s) do you teach? With some additional information maybe we can come up with some hands-on activities that will fit in your classroom.
Gary
Hi Patricia,
As I greatly enjoy hearing about the lives of others I know I would enjoy hearing some of your stories about the experiences you have had in the nursing field. Having been in the military your experiences are going to be even more dramatic I am sure. By sharing these stories I know you are able to capture the attention of your students while showing them the value of your course content.
Gary
I agree in further educating yourself as an instructor and the subject matter you are or will be teaching. Being a mentor to your students is the key! Everyone needs someone that they can look up to.
I like to read surveys about what my students have to say about my teaching skills. It lets me know what I can improve on or continue doing.
~Jackie
I would love to have more hands-on stuff for the classroom.
As a nurse with 36 yrs of experience and I am retired from the USN Nurse Corps, I share "war stories." For instance, when teaching terminology, I talk about how medical terms are sometimes "warped" by a lay person. This illustrates the need to know the terms and be able to understand when doing a patient interview.
Hi Ben,
What are some of the strategies you use in calling attention to the information in the students' books?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Gary
I think I can be more careful about calling attention to information in the book. So students will go back and study the information.
Ben
I think it is important to have a lesson plan. Try and learn student names. Encourge them to participate. Try to avoid just standing there and doing all the talking.
Ben
Hi Ginneh,
I love hearing stories like yours. Thanks for sharing with us. The results of your efforts are better prepared students and more enjoyable teaching experiences for you.
Gary
I can use interactive, where I ask a question that directs the students towards an objective, or use a demo (lab) and introduce the lecture after based on the observed results of the demo. This ways it gets the students thinking about a new concept before they have been given the lecture for it.
In the past,I was only comfortable with lecturing and visual instructional styles. It wasn't until after the first exam, I realized how limited my teaching style was. I took a few workshops and read a couple of books on various instructional styles and my test scores shot through the roof. It really pays to be versatile in the classroom. Thanks again
