Participate in creative learning opportunities for instructors such as developing instructional strategies that would meet individual and most challenging problematic areas; personal teaching style analysis from other instructors or professors as well as employing the use of mentors and participating in service programs to enhance ones personal instructional style.
An instructor will have leader skills
John,
Acteonline.org has many great resources that will be of help to you. I wish you continued teaching success as you expand your instructional delivery expertise.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I use a lot of humor in my course, which tends to put students at ease. "We're all in the same boat" kinda of feeling. I also know that not all people find me funny, so I've been trying to employ tactile and visual aids as well as auditory. I also think the ACTEONLINE.ORG will be a valuable tool in enhancing how to develop as an instructor.
There are many different learning styles. An excellent instructor will have many learning styles for every learner.
Hector,
This is a critical part of being an educator. You need to define your role in relation to your students and how you conduct yourself as a model of your field.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Hector Daniel: I agree that everyone has initial perceptions of the people around them, and you have to get comfortable with your students and still maintain your position and instructor, mentor and Professional, while representing your institution.
Cliff,
Good way to include all students. It is easy for the shy students to be overlooked in the activities of the class. This way everyone is contributing.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
That's a great idea. I'll be teaching a new adult education course in the Fall - and asking the students what their work and experience is can really help in forming and modifying lesson plans.
I engaged students from a low-keyed but direct approach of setting a theme of interactivity. This means, that when introducing the class I mention that it’s important for students to dialog their opinions with others and me in the room. The few shy students that I’ve had are gently encouraged to provide feedback from assigned reading or case studies. This usually makes for an interesting class.
When answering a student's question I see that the student still in confusion, I try to explain the same thing in another words.
Angela,
Knowing they have a supportive and caring instructor is important for students. In return, just as you have said they have to put forth the required effort if they are going to be successful. In the end it really is up to them to create a future for themselves through their courses and career development.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Angela,
Sounds like you are developing into an interesting, supportive and engaging instructor. This is what instruction should be about. Keep your enthusiasm and excitement and you will continue to grow in your skills as the learning leader. Have fun with your teaching and I know you are going to have a rewarding career as an instructor.
Glad to hear that we have been able to share success teaching strategies with you through this course.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I also try to make the students comfortable. This comes out in my presence int he classroom and my style of teaching. I let the students know at the beginning of each course that the main goal is for them to learn in the class. They have to do the work and turn in the assignments, but those items are designed for their learning. I want them to be compfortable with me as an instructor who has their interest foremost in my teaching.
I am enjoying this course so far and have learned a lot just from this first module. I am a new adjunct instructor and this is my first time teaching. I feel as though I could have had more guidance from my chair but I also work a full-time job and teach in the evening. It is rare that my chair is on campus in the evening. He did assing me to a mentor - another instructor who has been teaching for years at this institution as well as two others. This was good and she helped me get started, but it still seemed like something was lacking. I've taugh a few course now and each group of students has taught me something valuable. I love learning new things and am excited to improve my teaching abilities. Our students are asked to fill out surveys at the end of each class. I look forward to these as they can provide areas of improvement for me as an instructor. I pleased to say that all of my surveys have been very good, but I really would like to hear the areas where I could improve. I'm sure there are some.
I think if both the instructor and the students are comfortable the ability to learn is great.
Bryan,
Thank you for sharing your experiences as a new instructor and how you developed into a professional and comfortable professional. I know this information will be valuable to beginning instructors.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
some times i have found if i purposely make a "mistake" infront of the class the "shy" ones will start to come out of the shell
Initially finding ones instructional style is a major first step and can take a while of getting used to being in front of a class. As a new instructor I was most concerned with being well prepared for whatever may present itself in class, hoping that in time the comfort level would improve. It quickly did and those days of worrying about comfort level and delivery are long over. What I found out personally was that as I relaxed and showed that I was at home in my element; everything else became a little easier. The students were more comfortable with me, confidence for both the students and I greatly increased, as well as the general flow of the classroom. I sense a lot of anxiety in new students but can see that much of it melts away when they realize that I am approachable when they have questions or concerns and that I am here to help them learn, rather than bury them academically.
In looking for areas of improvement, one would have to be making a group of extreme personality and cultural differences more cohesive as a group or team. This is a challenge that I am still working through.
Sectional surveys can assist in refining your instructional style. Obtaining feedback from students over the course of the term can show an instructor improvement levels. Examples could include a Midterm and Final survey from students.
