The first step I can take to improve my instructional abilities are self analisis and asking for feedback from supervisors or fello instructors. This way I can lay out a list of weaknesses I need to improve upon.
I would follow this with creating a personal development plan that would use all the reasourcers at my disposal.
Resourses may include this website, fellow instructors and profesional publications.
Once I have decided what areas to brush up on and what resourses I will uses I would need to establish deadlines to assure completition of the personal development plan.
Hi Mike,
I think this is a great way to keep the pulse of the class and how things are going. This lets you make any changes that are needed to keep everyone moving forward.
Gary
Hi Steven,
Thank you for sharing your instructional strategy with us as well as the kind words about the course. By working together and trying to learn all we can about learning our instructional effectiveness will continue to increase.
Gary
I have also interviewed students as they leave a lecture. I find the input a great tool in evaluating instructors styles.
I can expand my instructional abilities by educating myself with courses like this one. I teach digital imaging so I already use a projector to help the students follow the lecture. I usually begin slow and follow the pace of the class. I think this course is a valuable tool. thank you
One way in particular that I plan to expand my Instructional abilities is to have ready"goal and objective clear for all students. This will be pointed out upon class meet and have students to sign their copy. Also, another way I plan to improve is to provide for the students"a ready Instructional environmement" which will entail, syllabus, and course outline and clear instructions of what is expected of each.
To expand your instructional abilities there are inservices available some personable some via internet activities that are offered. There are many excellent magazines available for help with expanding your instructional abilities. you need to always stay up to date with the changes that occure relating to your field.Make sure you know the current skills, policies, and procedures, and technologies of your field so as to keep up to date.
Hi Kari,
This is a great report. Glad to hear that you have been able to make adjustments as needed and to expand your instructional expertise. As time goes by you are going to continue to become even more effective and efficient in your efforts.
Thanks for sharing your success with us.
Gary
In developing my own style, observations have certainly been helpful in seeing what works and what does not work. Pushing my self to step out of my comfort zone has been challenging but rewarding.
So far in my class, I've been learning by trial and error. The first couple of classes, I had trouble with judging how long my lectures were going to take, mostly not knowing if the students would have a lot of questions or input. This misjudgement of time led to me having extra time at the end of my class. I took the opportunity to get input from the students about the lectures (ie were the understanding them and if they liked the structure of the notes I provided). Since then I've learned how to better manage the class time to make the most of the time we have together and I've changed the note layout to make it easier for the students to follow and take notes. I'm also having to learn how to supervise the students while the work in smaller groups.
All in all though, the class has been going well and the students have been giving me positive feedback.
While you are an instructor you can not take things for granted by thinking that whatever way you are teaching is the most effective way and all the students would be comfortable with your style of teaching.
Some classes and some students need extra preparation and you really have to work hard by implimenting new ideas and new methods to really be on the top.
Therefore one should be open to new learning and adapt some new methods to expand the instructinal abilities.
Observing successful instructors and educators has been a powerful tool thus far. I have also starting reading feedback students of successful instructors have provided.
Thus far I have found that observing numerous other successful instructors has given me an excellent insights.
I could expand my instructional capacities by integrating the institutional purposes of IADT with my course and am working on that right now. The students of this school are graphic artists or fashion designers and I am integrating visual art options into their research projects. I could improve my technological skills by taking courses on technology in the classroom. In many years of teaching, a common critique of my instruction is a lack of confidence and I would like to videotape myself and also take courses on how to improve my confidence. I am currently going through professional development that will involve videotaping at Kaplan Test Preparation, one of my other jobs.
i like to network with other instructors and also get some guest speakers for classes. drawing off of their experiences helps alot.
Instructors / faciliators can expands their instructional abilities by using a broader range of the instructional materials. Most of our textbooks provide a range of case studies, team exercises, and other learning activities that can be easily integrated into our classroom activities. Over time I have found that I am using a more diverse set of activities and have found that students participation and engagement has increased as a result.
Hi Edward,
Good way to show your students how to incorporate resources into the classroom so they can see that there is data supporting the content being offered. The more knowledge they have about how to secure resources the more they will use these skills once they are out working.
Gary
I have also found some classical support papers and articles at the CTUonline Library. I believe next class I will coordinate a bibliography for the students.
I have found some great stuff while doing internet searches like ideas for graphics, videos (y tube), related curriculum from others and reading that I can use. I struggle to come up with a variety of ways to present a topic, espcially in different learnng styles.
I'm always seeking new delivery methods. Examples: Jeopardy! game in PowerPoint format, YouTube videos. Technology gives us options we didn't have 30 years ago.
