I found this information useful and look forward to using it in my teaching going forward
Cynthia,
These are fun strategies to use and they do wake the students up. I like to use things like this for the engagement factor and to keep the students focused on the class. I teach from 4 until 10 pm so I need to have a lot of action to keep them in a learning mode for this length of time.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I am an interactive type instructor. I like to wake my students minds up with games and tossed fuzzy objects. I like to have the student toss the items to another student if they stuck on an answer. This build team and an enviroment of intrigue and low stress. My student love it!!! And they all do pretty well in their ability to recall data on tests.
I believe that by attending CE classes, seminars and conferences where education styles are the topics of discussion as well as using this tyle of online learning modules I learn a great deal about different class room instruction methodologies.
Theresa,
Having been a long time member of ACTE as well as president of the group when it was known as the American Vocational Association (AVA) I can relate to your comments about the information that can be received from this association. The Techniques magazine as you well know gives out a lot of information each month for teachers that are working in the career education field. You have a good professional development plan and I wish you much success with your PhD program.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
One of the techniques I use to advance my instructional style is through the Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE). ACTE offers resources for instructional improvement.
I also utilize professional development resources for educators in my PhD program.
Sean,
This is good advice for us all to follow. We may be the learning leader but not the smartest person in the room. By using a cooperative format we all can learn and grow together.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Dear Greg,
I agree. I have subscribed to a professional online teaching magazine dealing with the new wave of for-profit schools and how they benefit students who work full-time or part-time and how it is changing their lives for the better. Being aware of the larger picture of changes in upper-level education in America should be every instructor's desire.
Sean
I believe in the Harvard professor's advice of not being a know-it-all to one's students. There may, in fact, be a student smarter than the teacher. It could be a teacher's most-embarrassing moment and make the teacher appear incompetent and a fool (perception). This goes to people skills. I will focus on avoiding being a know-it-all to my students.
The college offers courses that help with teaching skills
Brandon,
This is how professional improvement will occur as you expand your expertise as an educator. Always seek additional ways to be more effective in your interaction with students and you will receive feedback that supports your efforts with students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
follow the information from the training i am receiving and practice it in the classroom and see what the outcome from the students are and make the adjustments from there.
use lesson to be able construct a better lesson to understand what we are talking about
The techniques I have been using over the years have been successful and with these online seminars I've been able to amplify them in a positive manner.
We already have a daily schedule, but I've learned in this course writing down my goals before class starts of what I'm teaching is very helpful.
Donna,
Great plan that you have developed. These observations will give you additional insights as to how to refine your own presentations and be a more effective communicator. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Leann,
I wish you much success with your teaching as well as instructional development style. Seek to have all the input you can and then use your personality to shape your instructional style and you will find that teaching is fun and rewarding as a result of the impact you have on student lives.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Greg,
This is what professional development should be about. Keep up the use of these opportunities as you develop your expertise as an educator.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I plan to continue my plan of life long learning. I present in classroom, dinner meetings and local conferences. Each location has a unique set of challenges and opportunities.
After completing the initial assessment, I am motivated to observe other instructors and ask for suggestions and tips from team members regarding the classroom and lab setting
I am new to being an instructor, so I am still finding my place with this. This is something I see myself paying more attention to as I have read the module and try to figure what I can build on or let go.
