First Time Teaching
Early in my college career I was going to become a second-grade teacher. However, after being a preschool teacher, I realized that becoming an elementary school teacher may not be the best for me. After completing the first learning module, everything I had studied from my past teaching courses came rushing back to me. Now I will be a clinical instructor for nursing students. Although this may be in a different learning capacity, similar teaching principles definitely apply. What challenges do first time instructors generally face?
This is my first year actually teaching in a classroom setting and it has definitely been a challenge. My biggest problem was keeping my students engaged. They also tried to challenge my knowledge of the subject matter. But I found as the weeks continued and constant support from my department my confidence improved. Its a challenge but one I feel I'm ready to conquer.
Hi Tiffany-It sounds like you really invested yourself completely in the teaching experience. I have been teaching for a year now at a career college. I was just feeling all the things that you felt tested by after teaching a longer course, 16 weeks vs. 6. I had not observed a faculty member as part of my training nor been exposed to information such as this CAPPS training other than somewhat limited materials provided by my employer until now as they have thankfully provided me with this online C.E. I am scheduling an observation in the immediate future and am finding a lot of guidance from the learning modules as well as a lot of value from reading comments posted in the forums. You have already learned so much from the experience you had that will shape your next experience. We are not alone out there and need to look for support both within the system in which we work and beyond, in forums like this.
Hi Kathleen,
Sounds like you have made a lot of progress in your instructional development and delivery. Offering a variety of instructional deliveries help to target the different learning preferences in your classes so the students are more engaged in the content.
Gary
A challenge for me when I first starting teaching was delivering course material to accommodate the various learing styles of the students. I always thought back to some of the techniques of my professors.
Hi Julie,
Thank you for sharing your new instructor experience. It is too bad but also good you got to observe the instructor you did. This person showed you what not to do so you could plan your own format for being a successful instructor.
Gary
I was a first time instructor and I sat in to observe a classroom instruction for the first day of school. The main instructor came in late, unprepared and disorganized. It set the whole tone for the rest of the course. I saw first hand how that impacted a classroom full of students. After that students were asking to leave early, come in late for the next class and tried to sign in for each other. Now I know be a good model, if you want them to be on time then the instructor must be on time, better yet be early. Be consistent and allow students to accept consequences of poor choices. Most of all be fair.
Hi Sean,
Good example of intraspection and how it has enhanced your abilities as an instructor. You are going to continue to develop in your delivery and approach each time you teach. Thank you for sharing your story with us as I know it will be of value to other beginning instructors.
Gary
Hi Beth,
Glad to the hear the courses have been of help to you and that you are on your well in developing into an instructional delivery expert. You have expertise of the field and by combining it with your developing expertise in teaching you are going to positioned to really enjoy educational career.
Gary
Hi Christopher,
Thank you for sharing your experience as a new young instructor. As you mentioned with confidence and knowledge age quickly becomes relative. Your comments will be of much help to other young instructors that are concerned about how they will be received by their students.
Gary
My first experience alone in a class I had one goal. Don't alienate myself or make the students feel inferior. Having been a US Marine my gut instinct was the tried and true military style. I quickly realized this was not going to work. We were not in a life or death situation. I gave more latitude than i wanted to or even felt comfortable giving. I had to create a base for me, a right or wrong if you will, so I could gauge and base responses. I am in my third class now and am still fine tuning.
I too just completed my first term as an instructor in a career college. Having done in-house training at my primary job on the subject matter I thought I'd be ready to teach. I quickly realized while I had the knowledge to teach the class I needed additional skills to teach a class of diverse students. These maxknowledge classes have been so helpful in providing me with information I need to be a better teacher.
I definitely experienced students pushing to see how consistent I was, in the first class that I taught. Our school has a no food and drink policy in the classrooms. When I tried to enforce it, students responded by saying that none of their other teachers did, and that I was only making a big deal about it because I was a new teacher. I was unprepared for that response, and was not as firm on the policy as I should have been.
Since that first class, I have been better prepared. I explain the policy, and I tell the students that I don't know if their other instructors are enforcing it, but that regardless, we will follow it in my class. I have never had students complain or question it since.
Learning to be firm with students has been difficult for me, because I don't like telling people what to do. But I've learned that I can be firm without being bossy, and if I politely ask students to follow the rules, they're usually happy to.
I as well am a young teacher. I find that many students do try to challenge your knowledge and confidence on the subject matter (specially the older ones). That was my biggest fear when I first started teaching. As time went on and i was faced with questions and challenges, I realized that I was able to answer those questions and overcome those challenges which not only built confidence but also made me realize I had something to offer, something that the students were trying to posses I already had.
Hi Tiffany,
Thank you for this great example of how a professional in her field and take that knowledge to the classroom and be successful. You have seen a lot in one class phase and there will be even more to come. The only constant in education is change so get your gloves on and as you say "step back into the ring" for another round. It will be exciting, challenging and rewarding. I know both you and your students are going to be winners.
Gary
I just completed my very first term as an Instructor in a career college. Before I stepped into that classroom I thought I was well prepared, especially since I have been working in my field for a very long time and my education is extensive in my field of expertise as well. But that entire 11 week period was a constant test of my endurance, education, professionalism, experience, anger management and anything else that could be tested of me as an instructor. My first time teaching was a "TKO" but after taking these maxknowledge courses and encouragement from fellow instructors, family and friends I think I'm ready to go back into the "ring"!
Hi Timothy,
Welcome to teaching. I hope your first year was rewarding and you are looking forward to coming back for another year. Thank you for the comment about needing to find a professional balance between being supportive to students and not crossing the boundary between instructor and student.
Gary
I am a young teacher as well. I just finished my first year of teaching law school. I agree that there is a strong temptation to want to be friends with the students. I find it sometimes difficult to find the balance between wanting to take an interest in the students' lives and needing to maintain a professional distance.
Hi Nathan,
Thank you for your comments about setting boundaries with students. They must be set and enforced or problems will start to surface and the ending will not be good. You can be friendly and supportive but always the professional educator. That way everyone will realize what their positions are and the students can be students and the instructor the instructor.
Gary
Hi Ronilyn,
The most common challenges first time instructors face are students that push to see how consistent and confident new instructors are in their classroom management skills. So be firm, consistent and well prepared and you will be in an excellent position to have a group of engaged students.
Gary
