A good way to improve teaching techniques is to stay current with all new material in the medical field.
I have a style of my own. Interaction! I do not let the students become bored, they enter the class room with anticipation of remembering from previous years or learning something new for the day. They participate by instructional discussion for their part of the homework. Through their class discussion they learn the subject matter while the classmates ask questions because they have to study the subject to discuss the subject. They have become the intelectual they always dreaded. The student is learning while talking and has unknowingly filed the information away or compartmentalized the information in his or her brain for later use. It is so easy to just lecture and leave the room without a care, but if instructor interacts with the class and in turn, the students are prepared, the class is done and no one has watched the clock.
By showing the students that you have a real concern in their success, and that you are willing to do whatever it takes to help them become successful.
Pete,
This is a good approach because different learners need to have different ways of approaching the material so they can get it internalized in their minds.
Gary
I like to use lots of visual aides! I think it's a great way to get the students involved in the information as well as interacting with each other and the instructor! Helping those who might be slower catching on to feel better about what they need to know
I have found that if you can explain the topic in more than one way it is easier for the students to understand or at least help them to word their question better.
My instructional style is engaging the students into the activities that is being taught. You will have some shy students and I try to give them the opportunity to participate and make them feel comfortable in the class. They may not be vocal as a few others but giving them the opportunity to share in others way will be helpful. I also have them engage in internet searches on certain material.
I will use different markers on the board to show specifics and /or important details as to what a student should get out of the lesson presented. To walk the room as an informative lecturer rather than a preecher. To promote questions and answers and interaction with the students to include different views and perceptions and promote interactions from peers.
Finding ways to get students more envolved.
Killarney ,
I like your style. You sound like you have control of the class in a way that supports your personality and is of value to the learning efforts of your students.
Gary
Teaching "non-traditional" students presents as many issues with what is going on outside of the classroom as within the classroom. By talking to students before and after class, or even during breaks, I have found ways of bringing some of their outside questions and issues into the curriculum.
My students respond well to group activities as well
I can take on line classes to help me improve my instructional style. Also, I can read books and watch CD's on teaching styles. I have observed two teachers way of controlling their classrooms and conveying the information they wish their students to learn.
I make sure that I am fully prepared for the next days lesson before going to sleep at night.I model the behavior that I wish them to learn. I dress appropriatly, and use proper grammer. Understanding that students also have another life outside of the classroom allows me to observe each one and try to help them in a way that is conducive to their lifestyle.
I have been moving about more in my classroom and using more animation with my lectures. The response that I have witnessed is positive.
My instructional style is not one of dominating the students, but leading them in discussion and listening carefully, trying my best to accomadate them in what they ask for or feel they need in order to learn the subject matter in a way that will stay with them.
I am a soft spoken person, sometimes I have a difficult time bringing the class back to focus. I now take a bell to school (it saves my voice) and I just ding it once if I need their attention. I do not use this bell very often and the students laughingly call it my "shut up" bell. It works. I use humor in class, not constantly, but when I do it seems to help the student to remember certain things about the subject in an easier way.
This class and the forum will give me more insight as to what I can do to further my instructional style.
Sheila,
You make a good point about the students. Each class brings a different set of learners so instructors need to have the skills to be able to adapt their instruction to meet their specific needs.
Gary
I also try to use a variety of active learning techniques with traditional lecture/discussion. It does depend on the mix of students that I have as to how well I can incorporate more advanced methods.
Jason,
Good professional development plan. You are truly using best of both worlds in developing your instructional style this way.
Gary
Getting them involve always help
It is very important to keep the students in the classroom engaged and motivated to learn the subject matter I'm teachig.I love getting students involved in a hands on manner, allowing the students to take apart and reassemble various projects, this way, the students will learn much more and gain a greater understanding of the subject matter book don't always have the answers.
I started actively reflecting on my professors during my night courses for Grad. School. Taking in what they were doing that motivated myself during class. I then put that into practice married with my own instruction style. A type of "best of both worlds for the students".
Tina,
This is true for most students since they start to see the application and relevancy to what they have been studying. This really increases the motivation level for the students.
Gary
