There are many ways to enhance your instructional style. I feel the best is through experience and real world application of skills developed in the field. Use your own experiences and relay the skills you used to complete a task to the students. This shows your experience level of the subject matter as well as informative lessons on how to adapt and overcome problems. As far as refining, this can be done as stated in the course - professional development. Not only reading texts about the industry and your field of study, but also read instructional texts. Instructing is now your field as well. So just as you would study the field you are teaching about, you should also be willing to study teaching.
I believe that by looking back on one's own past instructors can be extremely helpful in becoming a better instructor. By specifying what one's past instructors did wrong or right, one can improve oneself by not following in those footsteps. Clarifying what one liked and dislikes about one's teachers can be a self-improving reflection.
Attend workshops that help develop teaching skills
Denisse,
Good professional development plan. I know it is going to work well for you.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Learning how to communicate to a diverse populatin is tantamont as it applies to instruction.
I would agree with Julie and Ed. I am a new instructor and I am confident in my knowledge of my subject matter. I am not as confident in my Instructional style, so by observing other instructors I can see what techniques they use that keep the students engaged. Try them out, refine and reflect.
The techniques I can use to develop my instructional style is to first (1) take educational classes (2)analyze student feedback surveys (3) ask a co-worker to seat in on a class to assess how I can improve instructional style.
Ed,
I like the different ways you are expanding your instructional expertise and growing as a professional. You are hitting on the key ways to be more effective and efficient as a learning leader.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Karen,
This is a great way to expand your knowledge and expertise of instructional delivery. In addition it helps to strengthen your relationship with your colleagues.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
At times I have to do teaching observations on other instructors and I always make sure to look for what seems to catch the students' attention. It can be hard to see what works in my class, so I think observing others is invaluable. I also make sure to try out different activities and ways of presenting information each time I teach in order to have a more successful class. Lastly, I ask students. I know that they aren't always honest, but I have been surprised by the candid answers I have gotten when I have approached the students in a relaxed manner about what was good and what could be improved.
Learning how other instructors teach and use activities to grab the student's attention is helpful in developing your own Instructional style.
Maurice,
Right you are. This is what customized teaching is all about.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe the teaching techniques should be versatile and applicable to each current learning environment.
Remaining current and up to date, reflecting on your instruction, and the method of delivery of course material are ways for further development, refine, and enhance your instructional style. I would also recommend reviewing student evaluations and surveys. Take what you can from them and make positive adjustments towards becoming a better instructor.
Ramining current and up to date, reflecting on your instruction, and the method of delivery of course material are ways for further development, refining, and enhancing your instructional style. I would also recommend reviewing student evaluations and surveys. Take what you can from them and make positive adjustments.
Amy,
You have a good professional development plan in place. Keep up your efforts to expand your expertise because each new strategy and technique will make you a better instructor. Also you understanding of the different learning preferences will enable you to customize your instruction in such a way to meet the individual needs of your students. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Christopher,
Observation of other instructors is a valuable professional development tool. I still set in on classes after many years of teaching as I know I can always learn something from one of my colleagues.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Sharon,
Like your approach. You are assuming the roles that are needed to encourage and support your students. Your results show they like how you are helping them to move toward their career goals.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I find that it is necessary to use different ways of instructing the same material. There are differnt types of learning styles and I want to accomidate as many of them as I can so that everyone is successful in class.
I remember that I tend to be an auditory learner so I like to talk to teach. I have worked with both physical learners and visual learners in my field and so I have to remember that they do better when they have to read and write about subjects or perform a task.
If I take the time to develop classes that incorporate all of these styles I may be more successful at sharing the knowledge the students need.
I also know that I need to learn more about teaching and so I will read and take courses both in person and online to help me develop as an educator.
What has been helpful to me in my new instructor role is to sit in on other instructors' classes and observe their style and techniques. Aside from my institution's methods of instruction course we all take, watching others has given me not only better teaching ideas but also how to handle various student reactions and activities.
