Planning means Avoiding Stress!!
As a season professional teacher dealing with everyday stress we have to constently find answers to problems. So, who wants more stress?
Planning helps to lower stress and even eliminates it altogether. Not a bad way to go eh? Think about keeping it. Keep it simple and to the point.
Plan ahead to help guide you through your course and you will avoid pitfalls, problems and enrich your student's educational life.
Communication is the key to solving all problems. Planning is a solution to the problem.
I totally agree. Write it down and its subconsciously encoded; its in your head and providing direction
I completely agree !!! Planning is the key to effectively teaching course objectives and staying on top of goals. I plan out all of my class meetings knowing ahead of time the subject matter I will discuss and any in-class activities that can accompany those topics as extra learning tools. Even if the class pace slows or speeds up I have a plan to guide each meeting effectively so that no time is wasted. Students know if a teacher is organized or flying by the seat of their pants. Lack of planning is obvious to those who are paying attention and students definitely pay attention. I never want to be thought of as being unprepared or unknowledgable about my subject matter, so I plan !!!
Annette,
Thanks for sharing your experience with instructional planning and the results both positive and negative. Planning helps the instructor to be able to settle into the course content and react with the students with having to scramble to fill the time.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
This is my first time teaching adult students, but it doesn't matter; planning is the key. I can tell when I am organized the class flows smoother, my students seem to get more from the class, and I feel successful.
I'm speaking from experience because the day that I wasn't organized, it had adverse effects.
I find that by preparing and planning ahead the goals for that week seem to be accomplished more smoothly. I write everything down before class that week to be certain that i dont miss anyhting important or feel boggled during class. Planning ahead is a wonderful tool for a instructor!
Very true! Planning does help a lot. The challenge is to stay on top of your work and to manage your time to do so. Good Job!
I totally agree! I teach modules which are 5 weeks at a time, which I have planned from the first day to the final before the course starts. It decreases the stress of trying to figure out what needs to be covered, it gives you a frame to work with in case the class is a bit fast paced or slower than you are use to, and it provides substitutes a framework as well in cases of emergencies.
Sir_Steven,
Well said. Thank you for your sharing of these strategies. I know they will be helpful to instructors that are just starting out.
Gary
