Lynn,
Good ideas for gaining insight on how to expand your teaching expertise.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Deborah,
Good professional development plan. Your different methods of gaining knowledge and experience about teaching will as you say "benefit you and your students."
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Reading literature that gives advice and ideas in improving your instructional skills.
Taking classes like this one is one way to expand instructional abilities! Asking other instructors and/or observing their classroom teaching methods is another way as well.
I have found it very helpful for me to observe other instructors in their classrooms. Just by watching their presentation styles, I can see what appeals to or interests me (or doesn't!), and what I might like to incorporate into my still-developing presentation style. I also watch the students to see how they respond/react to the teaching methods of different instructors. I'm looking forward to the information in this program. Just learning about the 3 Ms is quite helpful and will give me a strong base to build on. Anything that I can learn to make me a better instructor is not only beneficial to me but to the students as well.
In my case, I need to move around more. remember to engage students in eye contact. I also need to learn ways to remember students names, I believe that this is important.
Lilliam
Taking classes and sitting in on other instructors classes.
Continued education which can be applied in class. I've already attended advanced training and plan on taking more classes in the summer.
First and foremost, I can expand my instructional abilities by taking the time to learn from other experienced instructors or taking courses designed to help develop better instructors.
Mabel,
Yes, you are a life long learner, to bad about not having the opportunity to be a professional student. It is the same with me, I would love to be one but unfortunately I like to eat, have shelter and drive a car. All of which requires that I earn money. As close to being a professional student I figure is being a teacher so I am one. Keep your learning opportunities before you and enjoy your wide array of interests. I wish you much continued success.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
To expand my instructional abilities, I plan to continue pursuing my BSN, continue to keep my CEUs up-to-date, avail myself of any and all seminars, conferences, conventions, that are directed toward my field. For me, learning has been lifelong. I love to "learn". (I do believe I could have been a professional student if I would have had someone to support me.)
I am also an avid reader biography, fiction, non-fiction, hisotrical fiction, anything else that looks interesting.
I believe you can expand your istructional abilities by observing other instructors in their classroom. You may find things you can use in your class as well as learn what not to do.
Kimberlee,
I like your strategy. This puts a model of what good teaching is all about in mind and you can develop your instruction from there.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Think of an instructor that positively influenced how you learned and apply those techniques to your own style. Observe fellow instructors and note the variety of methods employed. Take continuing education classes or read about educational methods.
Christopher,
Great example about how to expand your professional expertise. Your experience in Japan teaching English had to have been a real eye opener. Thanks for sharing how we need to stretch ourselves.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
There are many ways to expand instructional abilities. One way would be to take on a course that is outside of your regular regimen. You will need to adapt to a different set of students as well as most likely pick up elements of teaching style in order to present your information. An example would be that if you are comfortable teaching Computer and Internet Security courses, opt to teach an Oral Communications course.
It seems to me that the key is exposure to various situations and course material. Teaching a subject ‘for the first time’ requires you to think outside the box, as does teaching a different type of students. This rethinking stretches your teaching muscle, causing it to regrow stronger and more elastic.
I spent four years teaching English in Japan. Not only was this outside my routine knowledge at the time (a Psychology major who had only taught as a math tutor), but it was more culturally different than imaginable. Quite the learning experience!
Thank you. I will look into it. My intent is to work my way through the program in order, unless you advise otherwise.
Regards,
Rick
Christopher,
Great professional development list. Valuable growth is going to occur as you work through these items.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
1.Videotaping myself in front of the class.
2.Reviewing previous lead instructor observation. -
3.Participating in professional development opportunities.
4.Preparing and arrival to class early to have created a relaxed open forum in the class room.
JoAnn,
I agree with you about the cellphones. In my class they are stored away and are not to be seen-period. (Exception being a personal emergency). This greatly reduces distractions because younger students are so intent on checking their phones frequently that when they don't have them in their hands they just sit there and look at me because they don't have anything in their hands to distract them. This is when I jump on the teachable moment and we move the class forward.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
