I feel early and comprehensive planning help me define what I want the course to accomplish. If I have a "road map" for the course established at the start of the course, I can still allow for detours during the course as warranted by student discussion or involvement; while still being able to get back to the original plan.
Hi Cathy,
Good saying and I agree with it. Without preparation it is going to be difficult for both the students and the instructor because neither is going to be happy with each other. We instructors have to be prepared and bring our best efforts to the classroom each time the class meets, that is what being a professional educator is all about.
Gary
I heard a long time ago that failing to plan is planning to fail and I am a firm believer in this. Planning should be done early because anything done last minute leaves too much room for errors and omissions. Students quickly recognize the instructors who are organized and knowledgeable and those instructors who are not. I believe lack of planning is pretty much shooting yourself in the foot so to say.
It can set you at ease before the class starts if you are prepared. It can show the students professionalism and that you value the course and them. The old saying "that a little hard work goes a long way". This statement shows that being prepared can help when situations arises which disrupts the status quo.
As an instructor the earlier and more comprehensive the planning the better the instruction. For me as an instructor this helps me to make sure I have covered all the material that needs to be covered. I have found at times that I needed to add to the material I was needing to teach. The planning helped me to cover the matierial better.
Hi Joanna,
Great idea! The binders really help to illustrate to both students and other observers what is occurring in your class. As for setting them up for other faculty I would tell them that you will be glad to show them how and let them develop their own. This way they will be invested in the binder system rather than just having it handed to them.
Gary
Hi Joanna,
This is very common in the career college sector. This presents a challenge for faculty in that they have to follow the corporate guidelines while personalizing the course for themselves and their students.
The up side of this is that faculty get to be creative in how they make the course their own while working within the guidelines. Good to hear you can use field trips, guest speakers, and outside projects to reinforce the in class learning for your students. These are powerful motivators for students as you know and it would tough to be without them.
Gary
Hi Joanna,
Good points about the need for and ways to enhance course planning. The part about being available to students is very important because students need that bit of extra interaction with the faculty member especially if they are non-traditional students.
I like to be in the classroom early because by chatting a bit with the students I can get a feel for where they are coming from and what the tone is going to be for that class.
Gary
I have felt this way also, especially due to how our courses are set up.
What I did is during the break I set up binders for each of my classes. These has handouts for each lessons, powerpoints, and course documents. I do need to review the binders before the next term, but everything is all ready for each class so all I have to do is pick up the binder, my texts and handouts for that class and head to the classroom.
This also helps when I am sick or an situation arises where I can't be in class, any one can pick up my binder and cover the class as if they did it each day.
One drawback to this, I now have other instuctors wanting me to set up binders for them also.
One plus to this is that accrediation likes the binders, because they can look and see what is being taught in the courses.
We have set in stone syllabus for each course, which we are required to follow. Each instructor has to prepare a propectus for each course based on the syllabus provided for us by the campus.
We have to use the required texts, computer programs, ect which have been handed down from out main campus.
We are allowed however to set up our classes based on the guides to meet the students' needs within the aloted 11 week terms. For instance, we can incorporate guest speakers, field trips, and sometimes outside projects to enhance learning of our students.
There can be many reasons why early and comprehensive planning can be so very important for instructional success. This can include but not for no reasons limited to the instruction being seen as confident and prepared on the first day of class, sets the tone for the day of class (and possibly the entire term), shows the students what is expected of them, the students be confortable to know what to expect in the course (no one really likes surprizes), students can understand what is going on around them, and can show examples of how the students should preform in thier choosen field.
For example, the instructor should be in the classroom early to set up before any student arrives (this can be hard when the building opens at one time and you also have students who like to come in early to the class). This gives time for the instructor to relax, deal with any issue which can arise (such as FA/Student services wanting student to come see them, students being blocked from class, ect) and also gives her/him time to interact with the students without taking up valuable class time.
Planning allows you to truly put together a comprehensive approach to your topic. Students know they are important when you plan well. You are able to give them a great educational experience in the classroom, which leads to greater success in the field. It confirms your validity as an instructor.
Early and comprehensive planning is important for a variety of reasons inlcuding allowing the instructor the time to create and develop the learning activities for the topic and prepare/arrange all the materials and other resources required to teach the topic. Additionally a prepared instructor has better command and control of the classroom and the learning function within it.
Hi Donna,
Good advice for beginning instructors. Thanks for sharing this with us. You hit upon a key point when you mention flexibility. It needs to be within the ability of instructors to be flexible because as we all know things can change quickly in a course so we have to be able to adapt and still keep the course moving forward.
Gary
First, if you are prepared, you can be spontaneous. Sounds convaluted, but... With most ventures, having a roadmap, showing action steps leading to objectives, allows students and instructors a comfort level...knowing we are on the right track. I also believe we need to be careful not to adhere too rigidly to every step(especially new instructors), that we do allow for, or build in some flexibility. After all, flexibility may be one of the keys to mental health.
Hi Idi,
Well said and dead on. To do less than be prepared is to not be professional as an educator.
Gary
There is no excuse for the instructor to come to class unprepared. We expect our students to complete assignments on time, read the information prior to class and study the material they have learned. Why wouldn't we put the same energy into making them a success?
There are actually many components to a successful course. One could look at them as a collection of instruments. And so, the plan is like the musical score -- saying how each instrument is used and how they all sound together.
It is so easy to fall behind, and not have enough time to cover some of the most important material. By winging it, unexpected things can happen, and you've lost valuable time. When something does happen that doesn't permit the lecture to go as plaaned, e.g. media failure, students easily begin a gripe session about another instructor, the course-work, their life problems, or the school, it is very hard to get them back on course. Everything must be well-planned to provide students with the greatest satisfaction and potential for achievement.
An an instructor, you don't want to be caught off guard by your students and put you in a hot spot. They will loose their confidence in learning your subject. Especially if you fail to answer students inquiry correctly or if you sound confusing. An early and comprehensive planning of instructions to teach is important in preventing these things to happen.
