Timberly,
Welcome to teaching. I wish you much success in the classroom. You have laid out a good plan for yourself and how you are going to expand your expertise as an educator.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think that keeping current with in the field that you are instructing.There are many resources availible the aid in enhancing intructional styles. Online training such as this has been very helpful for me.There are book and magazine with get topics to share with students.Also software programs that will help with presentations.
Also overall, I think just knowing who your audience is.
Tracey,
Very good analysis of how instructors can increase their effectiveness with their students. They do need to be flexible and adaptative in their instructional approach.
Garyf
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I am new within the teaching profession. After completing this model I have a better understanding that I need to develop a professonal plan for me begining with where I am at and where I would like to be. I need to look for ways that work best for me and methods to adjust to meet the needs of my students.
Timberly Klinestiver MS, RN.
I believe instructional style is best when it is adaptive. This comes from a combination of experience and the ability to quickly understand the perception your students have of you and or the content. I think many instructors have not learned to adequately understand how students perceive them and the resulting style is not effective for their students. It also prevents the instructor from focusing in on developing areas of weakness because of the inability to identify their weaknesses.
Nichelle,
Way to go in keeping your professional development moving forward. This is what being a professional educator should include as you expand your knowledge and expertise to more effectively communicate and engage students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Patricia,
I think you will gain a lot from sitting in on these sessions. The more observations you have the more knowledge you will have to incorporate additional teaching techniques into your instruction.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have been teaching for a 9 years at a Career College. The 7th habit of Steven Covey is shapening your saw. I am in the process of sharpening my saw. I attend workshops, reveiw the student survey and asked other instructor if I can observe them teaching.
I would certainly be interested in attending other instructors lectures. There are days where I feel more confident than others and yet when I head home at the end of class I always wonder if I got my point across.
Daniel,
Well put. The more integration of senses that instructors can provide students the more relevancy and application of the content they are going to have.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have been able to do many hands-on after lecture to enhance the learning curve of students.
It needs to be remembered that some students will not retain quality information without immediate correlation to spoken matter.
I've heard about it.
I've seen it.
I've touched it.
Gretchen,
Good point about trying to get a "read" on students when you are teaching an online course. I think your efforts are right on target because you are connecting with them and letting them know you are there to provide any needed support.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Observing my students' body language tells me I need to modify my communication when on ground. On-line, I have to read the responses in emails and discussion boards to see the language they are using to set the tone to their response and the timing between posting the assignment and the response. Reaching out by phone in either scenario is good when trying to confirm your thoughts concerning a student at risk.
Michael,
You are very fortunate to be in such a setting. I can tell you appreciate what your institution is doing to help you become and even more effective instructor. Keep growing in your knowledge and expertise because this will help you to enjoy teaching even more.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I am very lucky that the institution I work for provides many avenues for developing my instructional style.
From taking on-line training classes like this to providing me with access to manufacturer's technical training sites I have the opportunity to find my style as an instructor.
I find that taking training seminars allows me to learn new techniques and to access the performance of the trainer. I often incorporate the techniques I learn and take note of how my trainer delivered the information into my own style.
Erika,
Good strategies to follow. Students like variety in instructional delivery as well as the opportunity to contribute to the class through discussions and problem solving. Humor is a powerful teaching tool as well so use it frequently to help the students relax and refocus throughout each class session.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I really think that reading the body language and facial expressions of your students will allow you to gauge how well they are understanding the material and enjoying the classes. I think its important to provide some entertainment in your class and make subjects as interesting as possible. Find examples for them to relate to things.
Webinars and powerpoints work best for me.
John,
You have a great list of professional development opportunities laid out. Thank you for sharing them with us. I know they will be valuable for other instructors to review as they develop their own list of professional development activities.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Yes, taking Online courses is an excellent way for all instructors to improve in their abilities. Online classe provide another forum and opportunity to learn and improve. Watching others on line and seeing their methods can be extremely helpful. As an instructor, I am always learning and find the more I learn the better I can personally improve and assist my students.
