Robiar,
I do to. Each time I observe a class I seem to get new ideas that I can use in my classes. One thing about teaching is that it is a constant learning opportunity.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Tierany,
What are some ways your would expand your professional development using these ideas?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
continue ongoing education and self study
I enjoy sitting in my co workers classrooms. This gives me great ideas first hand! Co workers can explain methods and ways of instruction however; to watch them in action really helps me adopt new ways of delivering the content.
Eric,
You have done a great job of exploring how to develop yourself professionally as an educator. As long as you continue to seek this type of improvement you will do well and your instructional style will continue to evolve.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I am new to the world of teaching, but have been working on developing my instructional style. Initially, I found it useful to sit in on classes of my peers. I would take notes on how the class responded to the different ways that the information was presented. I would try to determine what was effective and ineffective for different subject matters as I observed.
After I felt like I established a solid base to work from, I decide to turn to psychology to continue my quest to improve my effectiveness. I found a lot of interesting information that I plan on incorporating in the book “Brain Rules†by Dr. John Medina.
As the quest for improvement will be ongoing, I am very interesting in developing new ways to improve my instructional style.
Stephen,
I would start with a blend of both to get a "read" on the students. Deliver a mini-lecture of 15-20 minutes and then do an activity that has the students using the covered content, such as small group problem solving or a case study. You will quickly see how they respond. Most classes work well with this combination and you will be in good shape to continue this blending. In addition, with this blending approach you will be appealing to the different learning preferences of your students and this will help to keep them engaged as well.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As a brand new adjunct and still practicing full time, are there any hints, or signs to guide me, when looking at a class and gauging if it is better to go with a presentation style vs. a facilitator style?
Bobbi,
The use of personal devices in classroom continue to be challenges for instructors. The key is to be consistent in the enforcement of your policy about such devices. That way the students will adjust their behavior to what your policy is and then the class and proceed.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I can gain a deeper understanding of the content of my course and can a variety of strategies to deliver my instruction.
I do not allow cell phones to out and visible during class if see n they are taken and the students see me at the end of class to get them back.
Justin,
This is a great way to stay current while also growing in your field. This way you will be bringing to your students the most relevant content so your students can be confident they are receiving content that will help them to be successful upon graduation.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think the most important techniques that I can apply to my instructional to better familiarize myself with the ever changing technologies in my field. I sometimes get stuck teaching some of the application and techniques that I am most comfortable rather than the most recent and cutting edge hardware, software and techniques. It can be difficult at times to use and apply all of the newly released ideas, but I have some ideas that may remedy that. Perhaps a monthly visit to some of the hardware, software instrument merchants to get some sort of "hands on" experience with the latest equipment. I may not be able to use all of them, but to actually see them and touch them in person is important. This combined with educating myself through more technology articles, Podcasts and tutorials. I believe this implementation of new knowledge combined with my real world experience will make for a good combination in the classroom.
I think visualization is very important. When students learn to depend on other aspects of learning it will give them greater understanding of the subject matter. This style of learning will broaden their comprehension of the class.
Jamie,
Repetition and connection with the field is how you help students to make the connection between the course and their future career success. Sound like you are right on track to make this happen.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Continue to keep evolving and learning new methods to refine your teaching style. Instructors are life long learners, and typically continue to learn as much as possible to know their students to be able to have an effective teaching style.
I constantly work to redefine and simplify statements and terminology of the career field, even slang to a understandable concept of students that have never heard these terms.
Glen,
How do you control cell phone useage in your classroom?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Chris,
What are some ways you do this?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
cell phones stink because the students use them to cheat with
