Ask peers/share ideas/successes/things that haven't worked. Take full advantage of training that is offered through your campus, whenever possible. Be aware of what your strengths and weaknesses are, and know your personality!
Hi Stephanie,
I agree. Professional development needs to be an ongoing process throughout our careers if we are going to keep at the top of our game. Also, more satisfaction of with our teaching will come as a result of knowing that we are keeping our knowledge and skills up to date.
Gary
I think that to be an effective instructor you have to engage in a continuous learning process. That is, you constantly have to be sharpening your knowledge and skills on the overall learning process not just your core teaching area. When you take this approach to your job, you will by default be expanding your instructional abilites. This could mean enrolling in workshops, observing fellow instructors for their best practices, taking continuing education classes, or being an active member of blogs or other educational websites. You also have to be consciously aware of what is or is not working in your classroom. This is a process that should be never ending.
Hi Grace,
Good plan. This will help you to expand your knowledge of the different delivery options available to you. This way you can develop expertise in other areas while relying on your strength as a demonstrator.
Gary
Hi Meron,
Good question about how to manage discussion. Your method of limiting the time allowed for a certain topic helps to keep the class moving forward and doesn't let any one topic or student control the discussion.
Also, by making public the time limit you are able to manage the discussion so it doesn't get to far off topic and if it does you know you can stop it with the time limit without embarrassing anyone.
Gary
I am a brand new teacher, as I have only taught 1 class, however, I know that I am much better with demonstating than I am as a lecturer. So, I've decided to observe other teacher's instructional lecture styles to help improve my own, and adapt a combination of lecture, demo, and project style.
Hi, Yes it is true that we need to create a two way learning by discussing different topics with students. It is challenging to keep the time limit to a discussion point. I think about telling the students on day one that although we will have many discussions in this class, I would like to keep a 2 min. max rule on each subject that we all get passionate about and want to discuss in detail. Topics like AIDS become highly charged and gets harder to cut off students from discussions but I have to also consider of the curricullum implementation and also time limit. Does that sound ok? I figure that if the group knows that there is time limit in advance, they don't take it personally if I cut discussions short. What are the parameters on this from your views.
Some ways I can expand my instructional abilities are as followed:
To participate in professional organizations
Attend educational seminars
Reading materials on education, self improvements
Participate in service training/seminars
On-line courses
more training in AV and new technologies
One way I could expand my instructional abilities would be to find some reading materials regarding adult learners. Most of my training has been to teach K-12 students.
Could anyone recommend some good publications.
Hi Casey,
Welcome to the professional world of teaching. I wish you the very best in this new endeavor. Glad to hear of your confidence with the material and support resources that you have to work with. This is a real help as you know because with these materials you have the opportunity to concentrate on your students and how you will be working with them.
Gary
As someone who is completely new to teaching, I think I can learn a lot from speaking to and observing existing staff members. For the course that I am teaching it also looks like the resources that are available online by the book publisher are going to be very valuable. I am very impressed with the student resources that available with the text as well. I wish I would have had those tools when I was a student, they really help to break the materials down into understandable segments to help with self-study.
I like to include activities as well but my challenge is to have the time to do so. Some of my classes are very short and there is a lot of material to cover.
I always try to use the techniques that I have learned in some of our trainings. If I see another instructor using a game template I try and figure out a way to incorporate it into my class.
There are many ways to increase my instructional abilities including taking graduate level courses in curriculum design, classroom management/motivation assessing personal and professional styles and ways to have my classes observed by other professionals.
Sounds like an excellent approach!
Best of luck to you Harriett!
My instructional abilities would include subject content, an outline of what needs to be covered and learned. Specific topics, basic knowledge in order to create the environment of advance learning and further studies.
Critical thinking once an ideal is introduced. Common sense approach applied to theory and curriculum is useful in order to motivate students. An example of something that relates to each and every individual student.
Practical knowledge reinforces the subject matter in order to develop the skills necessary to retain information and do the job required in the field.
I also try to meet the objectives and goals of the course taught. Continually asking questions, listening to students interpretation of information received and how they apply knowledge. Clarify any misconceptions and correct them as needed.
I also include real work ethics scenarios, investigate unknown case studies, and give written/practical timed exams. Timing is important in the field of Medical Technology because patient lives depend on turn-around-time.
I make sure students research the most current information in the field and we have open discussion with regards to job opportunities.
I also attend conferences and update my continuing education hours in the field locally and nationally as well on-line tele-training and conference calls on current instructional information utilizing them in the classroom setting.
I attend seminars year round on a variety of topics. You can learn a lot from watching others facilitate classes. You can see what works and what does not. Observing others is a great way to get better at what you do. Many people out there have a lot to offer. I always say “utilize your resources.†You cannot get complacent. You must continue to strive to get better, and this includes watching what others are doing. Don't be afraid to try something new! It really is so simple!
Liz,
I totally agree! Our fellow instructors are so valuable! It can be difficult though if you discover your style vastly varies from theirs. I think it is safe to say though, you can declare what your preferences are and what you want to avoid. AND...it is most difficult to please everybody :-)
Always challenge yourself to take it to the next level. We encourage our students to raise their level of expectation and we should do the same. We work amongst other educators and they are a GREAT resource. Continuing education is also crucial to keep up to date with new ideas and teaching strategies.
