Research on the new methods of instructing in different magazines. Also, sit in some classes of experienced instructors.
There are several ways that can expand my instructional abilities and that would be supplies for the visual learners as I do encourage classroom and student participation when teaching and demonstrating procedures. Powerpoints are very effective as well as overhead drawings etc. However some schools need to provide the materials that the student need to accomplish their goals of learning and feeling confident of their success in their study course. Instructors can only supply so much of their knowledge on lecture form we have to have hands on material.
When I have the chance I discuss different methods for designing instruction with colleagues, take relevant ceu courses and read professional journals. In addition I try to utilize the resources my school has for instructors.Professional devbelopment is an ongoing priocess and keeps my instruction from becoming stagnant. If one has the chance, attending conferences can be a great source of ideas and renewed enthusiasm for one's teaching.
Always show enthusiasm in what you are presenting and ensure that you are prepared to teach. Never present as knowing everything and than being proven wrong. This action would discredit you as an instructor and could damage any future teachings you may have. Take courses in which you could better your presentation style to ensure students are captivated by the lesson at hand no matter how unappealing the subject matter may be.
Instructors may imporve their instructional abilities by doing some of the following:
* observing other isntructors
* enrolling and taking course on instruction
* mentoring from college administrators or department heads through course observations.
* reading course evaluations for responses with common themes.
I really enjoy it. Well, first of all, I would say technical improvement. These areas of knowledge are included of sources of materials, equipment, and tools/instruments. I should be comfortable with the text books that are being used in my courses. I should be an expert with all this information and come into an understanding of what must be taught, and how to delivery to my students before hands. In addition, I should always keep up to date on the latest innovations and changes like technology, current industry & trends.
Secondly, I should be competent in my professional. This is a question of how can I instruct my course more effectively and efficiently? I should always be on the lookout for ways I can improve my professional skills. Being insightful, in turns, will always helps me to develop my style as well.
And finally, it’s about personal competence. The best way to reaching out to them or get my point across as an instructor, is the ability to develop rapport with my students. At the same token, I also should know my own strengths & weaknesses. This will show exactly which area I should work on. Certainly, these three elements will give me a better idea of who I am as an educator and how I can acquire additional competencies that will help me to become an excellent instructor.
Hi Robin,
Your last sentence captures the essence of how you can approach the students and keep their attention. Offer variety and use as many of the senses as you can and you will be engaging your students at a high level of interest.
Gary
Taking courses such as this one is an important first step. It is also helpful to build relationships with other teachers you admire. However, I have also learned from teachers that are quite different in style. I can find something to learn in most situations. Sometimes learning takes place in the most unlikely places. I try to stay open to the possibilities. The most effective way for me is to evaluate students' success in an ongoing manner taking note of what works for them and their style of learning as the class progresses.
I loved what you had to say. It is succinclty stated. How do we work around the short attention spans? For me, I think that I try to utilize as many senses as possible in presenting material.
I hear you! This is good advice. Depending on the class,it can be unsettling at times.
I have done this before. It is very helpful. It is also good to get feedback from other instructors who sit in on your classes.
I think a really great way to expand my instructional abilities is to sit in on other instructor's classes. This would expose me to teaching methods I otherwise may not have thought of myself, as well as allowing me to revisit the classroom from the students perspective.
I agree with the idea of accessing other, perhaps more experienced instructors to help build on my instruction. I have worked hard to make sure I incorporate many different techniques into my lesson plan - I lecture for 15 - 20 minutes, then demo, then return to lecture with class participation, sometimes an impromptu oral quiz. Sometimes instructors get so "boxed in" teaching the same course over an over, that we forget not everyone delivers the material the same way. I also keep current with people in my industry so I can provide up-to-date instruction as well.
I find it very helpful to discuss new ideas with other instructors. Often times I will demonstrate my ideas to get feedback from them. This is also a great trial run for class.
Hi Robert,
I commend you for your efforts in softening your autocratic style of delivery. That method worked for you in the military and now that you are no longer in that setting you are focusing on how to deliver content effectively in your current classroom. This is a truly the sign of a dedicated professional that wants his students to succeed. Keep up the learning methods on how you can best meet the needs of your students and I know but they and you will be successful.
Gary
I have an MFA in Theatrical Design but I am teaching in Game Design. When I got my degree there were no computers. But both mediums have much in common...creating environments, willing suspension of disbelief, painting with color and light, designing visually interesting spaces, concept development for environments and characters. And I have worked in this software for over 15 years. But there are also major differences. I need to find a way to better make the leap to gameplay. I enjoy the creative process but I don't really enjoy playing games. Part of that is probably generational. I am currently looking for professional seminars. Taking some of these will probably help to better establish my credentials with my students.
After spending 26 years in the military, primarily providing on-the-job instruction, I found that I had to really soften my autocratic style of delivery. I still have a degree of discomfort with a lecture format required by some of the subjects now teach. However, I found that if I keep my hands busy by writing and drawing on the whiteboard I can get through the lecture with fewer pauses.
Hi John-Howard,
Thank you for sharing this quote with us. It made me smile. This is what chews up much of my time. Meetings to plan future meetings. We have a Committee on Committee whose job it is to determine what committees we should have and if we need anymore. Education needs to focus on the continuous improvement aspect of our lives so we can continue to grow as effective and efficient instructors. It is what makes teaching fun and students successful.
Gary
There is an old chestnut which goes: "Lately I have been spending so much time creating the weekly department newsletter that all it contains is what I have been doing to create the newspaper" -- in some sense, this is also true of instructional abilities.
So make sense of this booming, buzzing confusion, it helps to break it down into 4 categories:
1) Expansion of instructional abilities through peer interaction -- by exchanging "war stories", what worked, and what did not, you get a much broader perspective -- this is the old 'two heads are better than one' issue. Key here is that it is give-and-take -- you expand your abilities at the same time you enable others to expand theirs, creating a reflection effect which can build up in the same manner that lasers lase.
2) Expansion of instructional abilities through additional technical learning and training. I teach in the IT field, which is constantly undergoing change, and the most valuable expansion of instructional abilities is through certification in specific technologies [SQL Server, Server 2008, etc.]. Almost as valuable is participation in user groups, technical societies, and product seminars from manufacturers -- it is sometimes amazing how one little nugget of information so gained springs a web of connected relevance which feeds back into my teaching corpus.
3) Expansion of instructional abilities through additional instructional learning and training -- this can have two parts: one devoted to specific new methods, processes, or technologies, and the other devoted to the particular rules, regulations, and developments of the organization in which I work. In both cases, such expansion results in enhancement of the managerial role -- more can be done more effectively because all the buttons and levers are in plain sight.
4) Expansion of instructional abilities through consideration of student interaction. The concept of 'esprit d'escalier' often applies here, alas, but later is better than never. There will be aspects of interaction with students which will puzzle you [e.g. one particular concept which is part of the class which a majority of students just don't "get"], and there may be no immediate answer. Still, the process of ruminative reflection often works on such cuds of contention until a blast of insight belches forth. Of course there will also be aspects of interaction which are clear-cut, and almost dictate to you what your response should be -- but in both cases, understanding that there is reception as well as transmission is a key component.
In summary, expanding your instructional activities is a rich field, and one which has a lot in common with the concept of continuous improvement.
1. Participate in continue education to learn new techniques and other’s experiences.
2. Solicit students’ feedbacks and take actions to address them.
3. Learn from past successes and failures.
4. Apply different technique for different type of learners.
