I try to give examples that the student may experience in their career to show relavence of the course material.
I do the same thing. There is an instructor that I work with on the weekends and we work so well together. I have learned a lot from her teaching style and utilized many of her teaching methods in class. Learning from other instructors is a great growth opportunity.
Hi Thomas,
I like the way you approach the classroom and I am sure your students do as well. The interactive method of teaching helps to get the students invested early in the course as well as helping them to see the value of the content that is being shared.
Gary
Hi Daniel,
Well said and right on target. The positive first impression of organization and preparedness is so critical for success.
Gary
Hi Patricia,
Can you expand on your comment? I'm not sure what you mean by it.
Thanks.
Gary
Hi Dr. Volz,
Good strategy for not only expanding your expertise as an educator you are I am sure raising the satisfaction level of your students as a result of your efforts. Online instruction can be challenging in reaching students so the more knowledge you have about techniques the greater impact you are going to have. Keep up professional development effort your students success will be the reward.
Gary
In order to develop an instructional style, one can fall back on past instructors that have met the model, manage, and motivate strategies. Utilizing the good methodology employed in our classes to further learning in a student's class is one way of fostering a more smooth and unimpeded instructional style. One should always couple this with observations of others whom you believe are excellent instructors with excellent instructional styles as another method of improving your own personal instructional style. Lastly, follow a common adage," If you want to be a teacher, be a facilitator first and foremost." In using a more open, and guiding process to present information, guide interest, and instill passion in regard to a subject, one can also modify and develop more effective strategies when combined with the appropriate level of didactic pedogogy.
I do not have any groundbreaking, awe inspiring, or brilliant techniques that will knock your socks off about instructional styles; however, that Harvard guy in the video spoke about instructors being prepared and upbeat, rather than disheveled and confused, in order to keep the students' brains from mentally checking out. To me, that has always been a huge focus in order to keep from "losing" the students. Once the students think you are a mess, it is very difficult to reel them back in.
Verbal along with visual.
Motivate students to ask questions so you can focus on the things, which were not clear to the learner.
I agree with you Robin about recognizing the learning styles of the students.
Be able to adjust to the style of your learners
In the short time that I have been an instructor I have definately observed how other instructors not only teach their classes but also how they manage their classes too. By observing them I will be able to create my own instructional style and keep refining my technique.
I use several techniques to develop, refine, and ehance my instructional style. Obtaining constructive feedback from my students and making adjustments is one technique. As an online instructor, I am able to listen to my recorded online lectures to note any enhancements I can make. Learning new techniques through courses such as this and from other instructors also help me to increase my instructional performance.
Dr. Stephen W. Volz
Hi Dr. Fuqua,
If your approach is working well for your students and yourself then I would continue to use that instructional style. For variety you might want to try a new approach in one area of your course to see how it works. If it is successful then you can expand on using it and if it isn't you have learned not to use that method again. I use this approach each time I teach my classes. This way I continually improve my instructional delivery while getting to be creative in my approach. This keeps me from getting bored while teaching the same course over and over. I feel that this is a win win for everyone most importantly the students.
Gary
Hi Jennifer,
What a great professional development plan you have created for yourself. You are right on with your different components because you are observing, learning and applying what you see as being best practices in instruction. These efforts are going to enable you to be effective and efficient in your teaching while creating good rapport with your students.
Gary
When I instruct my style is more towards guiding and building a rapport with the students as I try to maximize their productivity and potential.
There are other techniques that I have seen that I don't think would fit my syle. Should I try them to see if students may like them?
Samer, I really like and agree with your method of incorporating future sections into your coursework. I also feel that this benefits students on many levels including motivation, relevancy and learning comprehensively in regards to the program goals.
I am somewhat new to formal instruction but have been educating newcomers to my profession on site for a few years. I am finding that there are a few different things that I've been doing to improve my instructional style. The first is to observe and participate in the lectures of my new peer educators. By seeing how other courses are being taught at the same university I am able to streamline my style to be comfortable for students. The second thing that has been helpful to me is keeping in touch with fellow educators from my coursework in education. By talking to instructors who are working in different facilities I find that I have a broader net for discovering new class activities and methods of instruction. The third technique may be something I consider to be the most important, and that is to discuss students feelings and insights regarding styles from which they have learned the most. I also elicit feedback nearly daily regarding activities that I did with students that day. By incorporating student feedback into my personal changes in instructional style, I am better able to meet the needs of students.
Hi Roger,
Thanks for your input on your instructional style. I am wondering if there is more to how you approach the classroom and your students? What are some strategies you use to reach your students?
Gary
