Classroom management is a big factor in my instructional style. In order for students to learn effectively you must take control of your classroom. Also having boundaries between the instructor and the students is always important. Setting limitation on the first day of class without being to aggressive will set the tone for the student on what to expect from the instuctor.
Dr. Meers, To develop my instructional style I will study other approaches to teaching effectively, as evidenced by positive student outcomes. Refining instructional style is accomplished by editing out those aspects of delivery that students do not respond to in a positive manner. Enhancing instructional style may be accomplished by synthesizing the information gained from the previous steps toward an evidence based best practice style.
I replied twice to this question I will try once more.
I can improve my instructional style by using less lecture time and more inquiry and project based strategies in my classroom.
Using newer techniques in the class room and by using real world examples.
I can improve my instructional style by using less lecture time and more inquiry and project based strategies in my classroom.
I can further my instructional style by using less lecture time and more inquiry and project based learning strategies.
I think that taking classes, such as this one, really help to do exactly what you are asking; they help to further develop, refine and enhance my personal instructional style. I know that I am not the perfect instructor. Even the most seasoned instructor can learn something more to make him/her a better instructor. A desire for life-long learning should be instilled in students early on in the process. I myself am not particularly young, yet I still have the desire to learn.
I find myself sometimes pushing to get through course material and I the process sometimes leaving some students behind. I need to find more engaging ways to intertwine course material with activities.
Hi Albert,
What a great professional development plan you outlined. Thanks for sharing it. The key is to continually be in a growth mode. The more we can learn the more we have to share in terms of both content and expertise.
Gary
One of the important aspects is to never look at any teaching attempt as a failure. You have tried one way and you descover that it is not working to the benefit of the student learnin environment. Step back, look at what you did, assest it, make changes and try again. Learn from it for the next time.One must always be thinking about what they are trying to teach and how you as an instructor can get the best points across to your students. Research your topic(s). Find videos that will help you. Look for guest lectures or instructor to assist you for a topic. Feild trips for other areas that will get the point across. Have the students research a topic that is of importance and have them teach the class. Class room discussions on the various topics to have open lines of communication. ETC. As an instructor it is your job and responsibility to your students, professionalc career and college to always be on the path for ways to enhance the learning especially to yourself.
Hi Jamie,
This is critical because your students are preparing for their careers. This have to have the knowledge and skills that will enable them to be successful. They need to understand the standards that you are enforcing because these standards are what are going to help them achieve their career goals.
Gary
Hi Jeremy,
Good strategy. The more you can connect the content to their lives the higher the retention is going to be for the students.
Gary
I am relatively new to teaching and I am often not tough enough on my students. I am going to try and change that and make things tougher for them and make them more accountable.
One thing I'm going to try is to make the material meaningful to the student.
Hi John,
Your instructional style and how it is developed is based upon your personality and your perception of how you should deliver course content. It ties into your lesson plan development, assessments and all the other aspects of instructional delivery. The best way to refine your style is to keep notes within your lesson plans on what works, what doesn't and how you want to improve. Then you can focus on the improvement areas the next time you teach the course and it becomes a win win for everyone without taking a lot of time.
Gary
Hi Sandra,
Good strategies for providing your students with the latest content in the field. You know the students need a certain level of content even if they don't so by keeping them involved and active you are helping them to get that knowledge while developing their skills.
Gary
Hi Cynthia,
Good way to keep the class moving forward while you are keeping the students engaged throughout the class session. This is always a challenge for instructors and you have got the approach that helps your students with learning success.
Gary
Dr Meers,
I'm unsure how best to answer your question. My knee jerk response is that I have several chapters to read, lesson plans to write, assessments to create, and no time to spend on my instructional style.
For the purposes of this exercise I will pretend that I have the luxury of doing the things decribed in this learning module. I would enjoy particpating in an instructional seminar on small group learning activities. I know I don't do enough in the classroom using small groups and remember fondly the way in which some of my own favorite college professors would use small groups to reinforce learning.
As most of my classes are lecture orientated I work to keep the energy level up on not only myself but my students by regularly engaging them in "conversation" regarding the subject matter. This way the class is actively engaged and I also can determine by the conversations whether they also understand the topic we've been discussing.
I teach at a culinary school and my students for the most part, become bored easily with too much lecture and powerpoints. All they want to do is cook. So theory classes are the last thing on their mind. I entertain them with practical experiences, visual aides and tactical representations of our topic if possible. I encourage them to challange my information in a discussion with competitions or games, that way they not only get a better grasp of the topic but have a chance to hear how their piers interpet the lesson. By educating myself on the latest trends and newest information available I can enchance, refine an develop my instructional style to deliver the best informative lesson.
