Kristin,
Good point and one that needs to be a part of every instructor's instructional planning effort.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It is necessary to provide yourself with enough time to organize material
Michelle,
This display of effort and confidence is so important for students to experience and observe. This way they will know they are in the hands of a dedicated learning leader.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
By early and comprehensive planning I can show my students my confidence in the subject as well as showing how comfortable I am in the classroom. Many students are not comfortable in a large classroom therefore if I am comfortable in my planning I can accommodate my students.
Jeff,
Sounds like you are ready to go in terms of starting your own class. It was great that you were able to observe other instructors and see how they approach the instructional process. I know you now have a number of ideas about how you are going to conduct your own course and develop your instructional style. I wish you much teaching success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I am new to the teaching field, from a career that I worked in for over 30 years. The on hand part is pretty straight forward. As I move into the classroom arena, I have to have a well mapped out plan and the materials for a smooth and forward moving class. I have been able to sit through a nine week course and study the instructors and their teaching methods, materials and interactions with the students. I have seen that there can be technical breakdowns and how important it is to have back up material ready for the unexpected.
Heather,
You are so fortunate to be able to observe a seasoned instructor and to have resources available to you that have been proven over and over in the course. You are right about preparation and more preparation. Having good preparation behind you gives you a level confidence that even as a new instructor you will feel and display to the students. With these resources you can focus on developing your instructional style and method of student interaction that you want to be your trademark. Be sure to take notes on how your classes go so you will be able to look back at them when you teach the course again and see what did work and what needs improvement. This way you will continue to grow as a professional educator. Welcome to the profession!
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As a brand new instructor, I believe early and comprehensive planning to be a necessity for me. I am still able to observe a seasoned instructor during the day class of my course but will be on my own during the night class. The idea is to see how and what she teaches during the day and then repeat this with the night class. However, I think I would be lost without complete preparation of my own. We have a detailed syllabus that goes over daily objectives, discussions and lab/skill work. My fellow instructor, who has been teaching both classes for several years, has put together a large binder (I call it the "Bible") that further breaks down each day. It includes all topics of discussion for the particular class period - including less formal topics that may not be included in the syllabus. It also has handouts and any supplemental materials that should be utilized for that day in class. I am currently thoroughly going over all of these resources as well as the textbook for the course and the pamphlet each student receives for how and what they need to know to pass the State Boards for their Certifications. I am also creating a checklist. This will help me to be sure I do not miss anything that needs to be covered during my class. My course is only four weeks and there is a tremendous amount of material to cover in this time. I do not see how I could possibly teach everything without comprehensive preparation. I also believe that the preparation and creation of a checklist will give me some much needed confidence. Even though this will be my first class, I want my students to get everything they need to pass the course and their boards. And for me preparation - preparation - preparation will help guarantee the success of my students.
as a welding instructor you have to have all materials ready at the beginning of the class so theres no waiting
FRANCES,
Passion for one's field and enthusiasm for teaching about it goes a long way in engaging students in the learning process. So with comprehensive planning an instructor is ready to face the class and share his or her knowledge about the topic under discussion.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
FRANCES,
I agree with your assessment of the value of connecting real life events to the topics being covered in class. These connections increase the value of the content and give the students insight as to the relevance and application of what is being taught. This is where they start to see the ROI for themselves as students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Agreed, it shows enthusiasm for the lesson by the instructor which will engage the student in the materials.
I think it is quite important to connect real life events with the textbook topics because it gives the students a look at the experience of actually doing the job or task as described in the textbook or lecture thereby creating a better learning experience by reinforcing the knowledge gained from the textbook.
John,
Having all of the needed resources, handouts and equipment laid out and ready to be handed out or shared is critical. Also, an outline of how you want the class to go is extremely helpful in keeping you on target. Posting the day's goals on the board is a great reminder for both you and the students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In your opinion, what are some ways to become better prepared once class starts. Which works best for you?
I agree with you. Planning helps make everything go smoother because one can adapt when needed without looking confused or unprofessional. The to do list also helps because it keeps one on pace. If I look down and have only half of the checks taken off and class is winding down I know it's time to pick up the pace.
Birgit,
This is not ideal on the part of the school and is tough on the instructor but it happens frequently. Hopefully when instructors get such an assignment they can see the value of the content they are offering and structure it in a way that is meaningful to the students. In your case keep your eye on the next time you teach your course as it will be much easier due to all of the time and effort you invested in the current course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Early planning is important in that it will make the instructor more comfortable. However, more often than not, an adjunct instructor is given an new subject to teach with very short notice and not much of the resources. Thus, it takes a lot of work on the part of the instructor to find resources and put a class together very quickly. I find, this challenging but not always the best idea. Especially, if the subject is something I am not totally comfortable with.
Because by doing it, I will have already addressed the core questions about what must be presented, in what manner, under what conditions, and according to what guidelines. This frees me to address the learning experiences of the individuals in my classroom, their day-to-day challenges, and the logistical challenges that are just part of running an industrial vocational environment.
In other words, it frees me to deal with the day to day details of reaching students because the big plan (meaning goals, objectives and framework) has already been carefully considered and established.
I believe that comprehensive planning is imperative for instructional success because it allows the instructor to observe, correct,and anticipate for obstacles that might present themselves during instruction. By planning thoroughly, the instructor can confidently convey information during lecture in such a way that it will be of maximum benefit to the student.
