I like the idea that you pick who the student will be with in the lab. I believe this is a fair approach. Also rotating as you do will ensure that they are working on different difficulty levels as related to body habitus.
Scott,
I agree. You can pick up many strategies by watching other instructors and then refining them for your own use.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Teresa,
Great to hear the good words about ED 101. I wish you much success as you expand your expertise and teaching responsibilities. Teaching is a great career choice and one that I have enjoyed for many years.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Observation of other instructors and how they present material can provide ideas that will enhance your instructional style. This can be a good way to get yourself thinking outside the box since you may be exposed to a style or technique that you would not have thought of or tried on your own.
I am only part time, just started working as an instructor for the first time and am only support lab instructor for two hours a week. I aspire to more responsibility and classes. Currently i work on developing and enhancing my instructional style by following the lead of the other two instructors and by taking every opportunity to observe in other classes. I also speak with other instructors at the school including those teaching other programs. It is very reassuring and motivating to see in ED101 the very suggestions that I am already employing.
William,
This has been my experience as well. You are right on target with your comments about using strategies that will help them to open up and interact more freely. Takes a while but slowly they seem to engage and start contributing once they feel they are respected.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Charmian,
Good point. Being prepared and organized allows you to relax a bit and enjoy your interaction with the students because you know you are ready for that day's class.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I agree with that. Planning goes a long way in setting the class in the right direction. The students feel more confident in participating in
the class and asking questions.
I find that students who come from a military background are often the most difficult to get to open up in class. They are used to a rigid command structure where asking questions is not encouraged. I make an effort to encourage these students to share personal anecdotes about a particular subject in front of the class in order to humanize things a bit.
I think letting your class know early that they as a whole are part of a team is important. This helps them encourage each other to keep up.
I agree that variety is very important. Students become bored with same format everyday. I like to change it up a bit with open ended questions and or different types of games.
I also agree with that statement. I am a fairly new instructor and have learned along the way the more organized and prepared you are the better the class experience for all.
Kelly,
Sounds like a great approach. Have fun with it and enjoy the learning that occurs with your students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
This opens up to classroom discussion about the topic of revelance and for me to give immediate feedbacks to the students.
Hey, this seems like a great way for the students to interact and learn from one another. I am trying to employ the same technique in an audio program. I lecture the students then have them apply the techniques hands-on with one another. Having students from varying backgrounds and music genres really helps to push the students into using their knowledge and developing a professional demeanor.
Sophia,
Variety is critical for instructional engagement. The more we change the flow of the class and use different instructional methods the more focused our students will be.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
It's important that multiple instructional methods be used. This will allow all students learning styles to be used & everyone can become more engaged.
Sunce some students have more difficulty interacting with others it's important that multiple instructional methods be used so that all students feel more comfortable & can become more engaged.
To know the material enough to be confident to deliver it.
vagif,
In what way? Can you expand on this?
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
