Hi Kathy,
What a great experience base you have to draw from. By living your field every day you can bring the latest examples to your students and when you combing with your field trips you have a win win situation. This is relevancy and application at their finest.
Gary
Since I teach Customer Service classes, and that is my career as well, I can employ day to day interactions with customers as real-life examples. I can also use my on-the-job training sessions to supplement my teaching materials. I can take my students on field trips to observe customer transactions.
I have found that practical and real stories help solidify the theoretical book instruction. I also find that humor adds much to the atmosphere and tone of the instruction.
Hi Monica,
This is the sign of a true professional. Constant growth and development is essential if we instructors are going to continue to expand our expertise and skills.
Gary
I agree, surveys and feedback have helped me to fine tune my instructional style.
I've never have stopped refining my instuctional style..seems every semester i have to refine it to the students way of learning.
By reading professional literature I beleive it helps me in my knowlegde of the content I am teaching. I am more comfortable in what I am teaching and therefore appear more competent toward my students.
A technique that I have started using is to put myself in the student's place and look at things from their point of view. I have encountered a lot of older students that don't have the comptuer skills that are somewhat second nature for the younger generation. I have started trying to help them by having a phone conversation with them and walk them through their issues.
Hi Kelly,
Sounds like you are going to be well prepared and ready for your class. Soak up all of the information, and experience you can from the other instructors. Plan well. Be organized. And then with a deep breath step into the classroom as a confident instructor excited about being able to teach your content.
You are going to do a great job and impact the lives of many students.
Gary
In my online classes, I will try to be a successful facilitator by encouraging active participation of all students, reward open mindedness, and providing constructive feedback. I will not just provide the final answers to the issues, but provide guidance to the students through additional questions and food for thoughts so that students can accomplish learning by collaborative work. I will bring in real world examples relevant to the course material to motivate students to apply the course material to our lives, and to appreciate different perspectives of looking at the issues.
I stay up to date on any changes in the field so when my students graduate they have the current information in regard to their field. I also like giving real-life examples when I am lecturing to help understand the content.
Keep updated via literature,continuing education classes and observing other professionals in your field.
As a new instructor, my instructional style was primarily based on my learning experiences in undergraduate school. The learning styles of adult career students are quite different than undergraduate students. After teaching for two quarters, I've have really come to appreciate this fact.
I have made an effort to really get to know the students via icebreakers, meet & greet before each class, follow-up phone calls & e-mails, etc. These techniques have enhanced my instructional style; personal motivation and encouragement makes a HUGE difference in the success of the students.
I am always asking other teachers for suggestions. I use google to look up any and all kinds of information. My first class will be in a few weeks so I am observing teachers and their styles.
I am a new instructor at a professional college, and this sounds like a fantastic method to start with. I'm very glad that you posted this - thanks!
I can enhance instructional style by teacher traning classes.
I strongly agree with the recommendation that was offered in the course content relating to pursuing continuing educational programs, classes, trainings, seminars, or conferences; not only to network with other instructors/professionals, but also to be thrown out of my comfort zone and to experience how others instruct and the styles or techniques they use.
I think I find it effective using powerpoint presentation during lectures as long as I patterned and organized to topics my self to make it more understandable to a diverse students with varied learning capability. I find students amazed and entertained with audio visual technology the way lectures are presented.
I do group activities on case studies or current event to keep the student engaged. I encourage the students to think outside the box.
Hi Anthony,
You have a good professional development plan laid out. I know you are going to continue to grow and expand your expertise to the benefit of your students. Keep up the good work.
Gary
