Get Your Students Hired
I have taught in corporations, public universities, career colleges. My experience with planning and preparation has been different depending on the venue. One of the consistant parts of planning is making sure the time allotted for class matches with the current material presented. Students can tell if I am stretching or streamlining material. That is why I feel planning and preparation is so important as an educator.
One way I address student questions is to build them into my lectures. I give homework questions to guide them during, but make them think about, the readings each night. The question sheet starts with the question prompt: Before we start this topic, what question(s) do you want answered by the time we finish this topic? At the end, I ask them which questions from number one are still unanswered, or are there any new questions.
I then cover them at the start of each class either as a large group or in small groups with me going around and observing and answering questions. I've found this gives the students some control of the topics discussed which they appreciate as well as gives me insight to how they connect the course content to issues outside the classroom as well as provides me natural introductions to the day's lecture topics. If addressed in a student question, I answer the question as well as cover the lecture material in one go so I do not have to do it again later.
Hi Lindsey,
If you are on a set format of content delivery student questions can be a challenge. There are several ways to keep on track with the content while dealing with the questions. One, announce to the class that you will deal with a set number of questions about a section of the content. This way they think about what questions they want to ask because they get to raise only so many question.
Create student groups and have them research the answers to the questions raised and share them at the next class meeting. This way all questions are answered, the students are participating and class time is still available for the new content.
Gary
I am just starting out teaching and I think that prep and planning is very important but I am finding it hard to stay on task with some of my classes. Sometimes the students just have way too many questions about the content we are covering in class and we end up getting behind because of it. Any suggestions?
I agree, Sarah. You should always review your schedule to make sure that your plan is in the best interest of the students. You can never predict what questions or topics may come up in a class. It's always good to have a schedule to keep you on track.
I agree that you should have some sort of planning and prep work done...you can always adjust the schedule as needed or when delivering but it is imprtant especially for students to have goals
Hi Max,
How to you go about setting up your preparation format so you are ready to lead the class? Thanks for your input on this.
Gary
Hi Joshua,
What a great instructional background you have. This background gives you so much experience upon which you can draw to develop your instructional delivery in your current setting. You are right nothing replaces preparation when it comes to being effective and efficient in your teaching.
Gary