effective comunication
model,manager and motivator.
all is fine and necessary.
but the ability to package the material and present it is the most important skill.
Galen, your post really hits home the idea of incorporating the soft skills of professionalism into our curriculums. Being a good communicator is key in many, if not all, of the fields our students are headed toward. One way we can ensure our students have practice with this is to structure our classrooms in a format that allows the practical practice, discussion, and acknowledgment of these soft skills.
We are required to incorporate a blackboard component in all of our courses and I think this is a good way for students to get practice using the web as a professional tool. So many people use the Internet/email as a means of social networking that the professionalism has been removed from it, or was never there, in their minds. By requiring our students to engage in professional discourse via the Internet we can help them harness the power of the web in a professional setting and be prepared to effectively communicate with others via the Internet.
Teachers should approach their classes not as task masters ,but as caring mentors.
As a teacher of technical subjects (math, stat)I keep assuring the students that by the third part
of the semester the material will come together
and they will see the whole .I do not penalize the students for faulty work while they are learning.
This approach is quite effective in reducing
plagiarism.
Thank you. I know from life experiences that most people only retain what they are interested in or can comprehend. In my professional field of chiropractic, the ability to communicate can make or break the patients response to care.
Galen
Hi Galen,
The human factor is an essential part of being an instructor. If there is no connection between the instructor and the students then the class becomes an exercise in endurance for everyone. You are right on with your comments concerning no matter how technically competent you are if you have no people skills you are going to have a tough time in the work place.
Gary
There is also more to this. You need to be observant of your students to see how they are assimilating the material. Some sit back and listen, others participate, others are difficult to read. Just because the students do well on tests is not the only indicator of learning. Do they have a light on or is the house dark when it comes to applying the information. I have had many colleagues who where great academics but had no clue how to relate to people. This was a great disadvantage in a clinical setting. If the student can not use the information and see the big picture in basic courses, they will be at a great disadvantage in more complex course. Application of knowledge is more necessary in today's world than ever before. Information is instantaneous but deciphering and implementing it is were people fail.
If the instructor can not read the student, then how is he/she to know if their communication is effective. The student must feel free to make mistakes without consequences in the classroom so they can confidently function in life. I believe an easy skill to communicate is through questions. Asking open ended thought provoking questions is one of the most effective communication skills to be learned. A good effective salesperson knows how to do this while making you think it is your idea. The salesperson is only a guide in the conversation directing you to an outcome of yes or no. Do you want to buy my product/service or no I do not want your product or service. By this line of communication the buyer/student makes the decision or understands the material and now can apply it to their life.
Hi Hikmat,
This is what being a model, manager and motivator is doing. Packaging and presenting material in a way that supports students and encourages learning.
Gary
