Terrific forum, Gary, and wonderful insights, everyone!
One of several ways I have learned to refine my style has been through observation of experienced professors featured on MOOCs offered through Coursera, Udacity, and EdX. Not only are these MOOCs a source of supplemental knowledge to bring into the classroom, but also gold mine of best practices on instructional style. An example of a best practice I picked up was to insert brief quizzes following webinars to ensure that the content was understood the way it was meant to be.
Anyone else finding MOOCs as a helpful resource?
Best,
Ali
Julie,
This is how you get students integrated into the learning process and engaged to the point of success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
More hands on activities with the students to keep them motivated and having them want to come to class and learn
Absolutely!!!!!! Students know if you are merely going through the motions...Passion and enthusiasm is contagious and inspiring!
Monica,
All of these input sources are valuable in improving your instructional skills and abilities. You are on the right track with your professional development. I wish you much continued success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I completely agree with you, Ms. Mary! This course has been absolutely amazing for me, I have learned so much and feel like I have become a better instructor in a short amount of time and I look forward to logging in and getting more information!
Organize trays of instruments more often. Make sure that all instrument trays are set up correctly.
Communicating with students and paying attention to their feedback. Reading course eval comments and noting their scores on exams and constantly striving to improve. Also, talking to other instructors and observing their styles.
Kelleen,
Welcome to the profession. I wish you much teaching success. Glad to hear that you have gained information that will be helpful to you in this course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is my first teaching experience. I have learned so much while doing this course. I look forward to starting the next one. I need all the help I can get!
Sacha,
Congratulations on a professional development plan that expands your skills as an instructor while helping you to define your instructional style. This is what professional development should be about and each of us should have a plan to follow.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Continuing Education classe have really helped me to develop my instructional style. I recently took a teaching and evaluation class. It helped me to recognize and avoid some of the situations that commonly happen in classrooms.
Gary,
Good points that reflect the fact that you are the learning leader in the classroom. You are helping the students to engage in the class while helping the discussions to stay on topic and move forward with learning.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Hello Dr. Meers-
Regarding an instructional style, one component of that is personality. I believe that an observer would classify one of my personality traits as "amiable" as an instructor. This often serves me well, as I believe that I can encourage the student who is reluctant to participate with my accessible nature. However, "all things in moderation" must apply. I have realized (many times) that in order to maintain order and to steer the lesson where I know it must go, that I must temper my amiability with making my responsibility clear: I am in charge.
Gary Farrell
Robert,
I do agree with your last sentence and the question posed within it. Teaching is a form of engagement that requires acting, entertainment as well as knowledge and preparation. All of the elements come together to provide a balanced instructional delivery.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Ryan,
It is great to have such an opportunity because you will get to see the different styles and approaches being used by instructors. Having this information will help you in defining and refining your own style.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Maria,
How do you go about learning what motivates each student? Thank you in advance for your input on this.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It seems to me that an instructional style is based upon many factors that are unique to any individual who has the privilege of standing in front of a classroom full of students and charged with the responsibility of sharing their expertise in a given subject. That individual’s personality, and life experiences, along with the sum total of their influences (both good and bad) and opinions all play a role in the instructional style of a teacher that is perceived by the students (and others who may visit the classroom).
If we only describe the methods used to improve, refine, or develop one’s instructional style as a “technique†it misses the bigger picture. As an educator, I consider myself a life-long learner. It is important, I think, to constantly strive to become more knowledgeable about subject matter. This requires ongoing effort. Similarly, to improve as a conduit of that content – it is vitally important to learn new and better ways to reach students. My experience is that this skill must evolve over time in order to succeed.
Taking courses such as this is one way to continue to make those improvements. Other ways include observing other instructors and learning from their strengths and weaknesses, as well as talking to colleagues and being observed by peers. It also may be useful to learn from other live performers such as actors or comedians or motivational speakers. After all - wouldn't you agree that teaching is a form of performance art?
I'm a new instructor and while in training I had the opportunity to observe all the instructors where I work and for me that has been a huge help in learning my own style along with mixing in what I saw from other instructors
I try to see what motovates each student and makes them happiest.Then develope a routine modeling this.Seems to work wonderfully!
