Hi Melissa,
You are in a great setting by having a school that promotes faculty development. You are on the right path with your skill development as an educator by listening, talking and observing other instructors. You can as you say learn so much from them. I wish you the best in your instructional career. I know you are going to enjoy it.
Gary
As a new instructor, I have found that the best way I can expand my instructional abilities is by talking with and learning from other instructors. I have learned the most from those who teach the same subject areas that I do, but I have learned general teaching ideas and abilities from all instructors I have talked with. I have also appreciated the fact that my school promotes faculty development courses and continuing education opportunities.
Hi Patrick,
I really support your idea of a professional development plan. All of us instructors need to strive to expand our abilities and increase our expertise. By doing so everyone benefits with increased performance and satisfaction.
Gary
By keeping current with the industry, not only as an instructor, but as an active participant, enables me to bring into the classroom up to date experience. As industry professionals AND instructors II feel that this is invaluable as an active method of expanding my teaching method.
I am into my third week of teaching. I am relying on my knowledge and power point. I need to mix it up bit at times, this study has opened my mind a bit about why to incorporate many different things into my lectures
Thanks
Hi Leila,
It is always good to watch others work. It is amazing how much you can pick up from them and they in turn from you.
Gary
One way I can expand my abilities is to sit in on other instructors classes. They may have developed a way to approach a topic that I have not discovered.
Hi James,
Good idea! What has been the most unusual or most helpful suggestion you have received from this?
Gary
I have a form that I pass out to my ground class at the end of the class. One of the questions is "how would you have taught this class differently?"
Expanding instructional abilities can include taking college courses or participating in continuing educational units. Another good method is to sit and watch other instructors to see the methods that they have chosen to use; however, this method is also used when actually taking a class as a student i.e. the students pick up teaching tips from their professor.
Rufus,
I have also taken advantage of "sitting in" observing other instructors. I agree with adopting methods that are already working, but have also found that some methods are just not "my style". When I have been faced with this situation, I take a step back and ask myself the follow questions:
"What did not work?"
"Why did it not fit my style?"
"How can I adapt their method so that it fits my style?"
"How can I adapt my style so that I can use their method?"
I have learned that some techniques/methods are "un-natural" to me and no matter how hard I try, I still feel like I'm "acting". Most of the time, I have found that there are portions of those techniques that I can adjust and use in the classroom.
The most effective way I have found is to sit in on class taught by other instructors and observe how the students react to their presentation. My institution’s student population ranges for 17 to 60 years old from all backgrounds, and each group requires a different approach to engage them as part of the class. I try to sit in at least 2 classes a quarter and adopt the methods I see that students groups relate to the most. This works most of the time, but there have been instances where the new method and my personality did not integrate well enough to be a conducive avenue of instruction in a classroom situation.
Hi David,
Teaching and riding a bicycle have a lot in common. The more experience you have the better you get at it. Your comments are right on target. We need to experiment and try different approaches to instruction. This way we will have a number of options available to us when we need them.
Gary
I also like Robert's idea below of using personal reflection as a method of expanding your instructional ability. I believe we overlook the importance of personal reflection all too often. If I could simply capture the lessons learned from a class - and not repeat my mistakes - I would be a better instructor. I use a journal for this activity, but I do not use it often enough!
It seems that the advice writers give me to encourage me to develop as a writer applies here - write! If you want to grow as a teacher- teach! This advice could be helpful due to the part time nature of many teaching positions. I would think this advice also relates to teaching a variety of subject areas. I believe you grow more by getting out of you instructional comfort zone - i.e. dont keep teaching the same class.
By attending in-house training and participating in available training relating to same.
I have found the use of projectors as a way to better relay the information to students. By hearing and seeing the lesson in front of them, students are able to follow along, step by step to complete the learning objectives.
As an individual, I plan to take numerous online workshops that deal with the new features and various methods of performing tasks in Microsoft Office (the subject I teach) within the next few weeks. By gaining these new skills, I feel that I will be even better equipped to assist my students in gaining computer skills and using them quickly & proficiently.
There are a few ways in which I can expand my instructional abilities, knowing the college, knowing the students and knowing the subject.By know what the mission statement in order to meet the goals. Knowing the student also is very important on how to deliever the subject matter. Depending on how their expereince and style of learning, either lecture or hands on. The way they learn best. Subject knowledge is also important so you can teach the necessary skills.
I expand my instructional abilities by really listening to my students. I check in with them often tomake sure that my instructional methods are clear. And i stay in touch with students after they complete my course to make sure they are doing well in the next course.
Hi Michael,
I commend you for your professional development plan. By expanding your knowledge base you are giving yourself additional instructional options from which you can chose. This enables you to offer variety to your students and this will help to keep them engaged in the process.
Gary
