The techniques employed that can be utilized and refine are all the forementioned in module I. My existing style can only benifit by adhering to all methods mentioned in said course.
Hi Laquitha,
This is a great way to earn the respect of your students while establishing rapport with them. You are showing them how much you care about their success and that is a powerful motivator as you know.
Gary
Hi Billy,
Good plan. I always enjoy sitting in on another instructors class and watching him/her work. I can take away so much for my own use.
Gary
I try to keep a very open dialogue with my student. I go from basic to more complex. I try to get a feel for where they are individually in order to fulfill the needs of the group collectively. I'm sure to sit with each student at some point within the first week to ask how things are going, what they are struggling with, what do they need more elaboration on, and how they are feeling overall. This has been very successful for me thus far.
Observe those of my peers that are at the top of their game. Look to incorporate positive aspects of the observed styles into my own intructional style.
I feel that I could ask more questions to keep students more engaged.
Hi Sandra,
I go to elementary and secondary instructional strategies websites and see what they are sharing. I then take that approach and modify it to be appropriate for my students and then I have a game ready to go. There are many of the websites out there so just explore a little bit to see what you can find.
Gary
Hi Kimberly,
This is a great strategy for wrapping up a class segment. Gives you a great amount of information in terms of where to take the class next.
Gary
Hi Christopher,
Good ideas that I know will result in effective and efficient learning. Keep up the good work of looking for ways to expand your skills at reaching students and I know you will have a great teaching career.
Gary
Hi Jesse,
This is a great read of yourself and how you are approaching your interactions with students. I know this introspection will be of value to you and your students as you decide how to reinforce and encourage your students.
Gary
Hi All,
Good points about how to expand your professional expertise and explore the development of your instructional style.
What has been your most effective growth strategy that you would like to share with other instructors?
Thank you in advance for your comments about this.
Gary
I have tried to use a combination of lecture, and examples. Much of what I teach is rather dry material so motivation to maintain the class for 2 hr can be difficult at times. I try to use examples and try to engage as not to have a class full of sleepy people.
Coming from outside the educational world, I believe repetition and using best practices from fellow piers is key.
The best instructional style that has worked for me is "The Coaching Method." This method allows for the student to utilize their pre-exsisting knowledge in combination with new knowledge as a way to gain and comprehend new tasks. I always incorporate the pre-exsisting knowledge of a subject matter by coaching the student on how to enhance what they already know to gain the comprehension of new information. This works best because the student feels as if they came to the table with something to offer. This also gives the student a better understanding on how to process the new information, because it is just an addition to their prior knowledge.
Lecturing is my most frequently used teaching technique. I take the following steps in order to deliver a strong lecture.
1. Plan the lecture in advance
2. Establish objectives for the class and ensure that my lecture meets them
3. Organize the material appropriately so that my students can understand it clearly.
4. Make eye contact with my students; move around if I can; use gestures.
5. Make sure that everyone can hear and understand my lecture:
6. Enliven my lecture with concrete examples, personal anecdotes, or references to today's news.
7. Capture interest at the beginning of the lecture with a question
8. Summarize the main points at the end of every major section of my lecture.
9. Summarize the entire lecture, reinforce and repeat the points I want to emphasize
I find myself to be overly strict at times. I can develop a balance of maintaining control of my class and at the same time becoming a little more laid back. I need to be less rigid.
Dr. Meers and group,
Good afternoon, after being in upper division education for the past 17 years I find time management to be the most difficult career dimension to manage for me. As a program chair with management as well as instructional responsibilities, I would be very interested in learning what techniques others employ to keep up with the day to day demands while focusing on the most important part of the career. In my view well planned classroom time and the personal as well as group interaction that comes with it are paramount to being successful in our field. I find the many other tasks to be secondary and sometimes regretfully time consuming.
Doris,
I agree. I try to remember that the students are not only a captive audience, but also in a position where they may feel forced to hide their negative reactions so that their teacher (who will grade them) isn't offended. I can still remember a few of my teachers whose self importance and banal humor made me cringe and look with longing at the clock in anticipation of escape.
Hi Jackie,
Thanks for the tip about the candy--I teach adults and I never thought of that. It reminds me of another idea I haven't tried with adults yet, given to me by a grade school teacher. She keeps some play dough on hand and a few squishy balls to give to fidgety tactile learners. They pay attention better when they can keep one hand busy.
Incorporating more teaching methods outside of lectures and powerpoints to get the students involved in learning.
