I think one element of preparedness is also an instructor's flexibility. Every student is of course different and therefore every class can also be very different. Sometimes what works well and inspires an interesting discussion in one class, stops conversation with another group of students. The more prepared we are, the more opportunities we have to be flexible, because when one method of instruction fails, we already have other strategies prepared and ready to go. I am still a new instructor and I learn something new each day I step in the classroom, but I have learned that the more options I have in every lesson plan, the better off and more prepared I am.
Course objectives will never be attained. The instructor has to formulate a plan/outline to create the 'meat' for the course in order to be successful and afford students the full opportunity for complete learning. Claudia K.
Comprehensive planning is vital for a complete and successful learning experience for the student. Planning requires reviewing course content and support materials, classroom environment, lab experience, frequent review and testing during presentation and at the end of subjects or the course as a whole. It is important to stay apprised of student progress through out the course to assure student understanding and absorbtion of course material. If one or more instructional approach is ineffective, changes should be made to improve those areas and thus improve the learning process.
We must be well prepared in order to successfully teach a class. We want our students to get the most out of it. We have to develop a clear, concise plan on how we are going to present information and what we expect from our students. They will rise to whatever standard we set for them. We want to be prepared for whatever may come our way. If a student has a question, the teacher should be able to answer it. A comprehensive plan is like our pathway to the goal we are trying to reach by the time the class is over.
I agree completely!
If I ever have to teach a class last minute I can tell the difference and so can the students. I never like to teach a class unless I have an outline for the entire course in advance.
Hi Patricia,
I was facing a similar situation because the information I needed to share with my students was not available in a current text. I put together my own packet and then contracted with a commercial publisher to provide the packet to my students. The publisher is University Readers.com They will customize in anyway you want.
The result is that my students get current information at a very reasonable cost.
Like your students when I posted the information online they did not avail themselves of it as they should or printed parts and so they were missing sections that they needed. Putting my own packet together solved all these problems.
Gary
Early and comprehensive planning leads to instructional success in part because it helps keep class on task. One way I do this is by using an up-to-date course resource packet. The problem I am having with resource packets is the move to "go green". My employer wants us to use less paper but students want the material in hand rather than in a computer file or on the Internet. When I create resource packets, I can copy pages front and back; however, if I post these files to my website, my students go to the library and print front only pages. I can't seem to make my 'boss' understand that my way is 'greener' than the student's!!
It sets the foundation for the course and keeps you focused and on task. By doing so, it will have the students on focused and on task as well.
You want to make the best use of the time that you are in the classroom with the students. If you spend time flipping through the book looking for examples or topics to discuss, you are wasting the students' time. So this may mean you end up putting 3 or 4 hours of work into a 2 hour class period.
Also, when students come to class "unprepared", I will mimic this behavior to make the point that both sides, student and instructor, need to come to class on time and prepared.
I've found that planning ahead and more thoroughly provides for a much better teaching experience for me and that then translates on to the students.
It sets the tone of your class and it shows professionalism if you can come prepared.
Be a role model lead by example your day to day conduct be professional, don’t be late to class, good hygiene, language, be prepared, motivate students.
Early preparation and planning helps your class move along smoothly even when unexpected issues arise. It also credits you as an instructor by being prepared for lectures, and any questions that the student's my have regarding the content of the course. And it builds your confidence level as an instructor.
Planning ahead of time and know the concept in teaching and back up plan is the best for instructional success.
A well organized class flows better and I stay on point better. If I am not organized then I am searching for material or jump from one thing to the next and students get lost or tune out. I've found that being organized is critical for the class and what my students get out of it.
It is important to be comfortable on all levels of what is being taught to the student. In this way it allows for the push pull of information and a sharing of knowledge
For me it is very important that my class is focused to the subject, when I lecture at the begin of the class I have to make them interested in to the subject, that works only when I am planning the sessions early.
Being in an instructor for 2 years, i once had one day finished early for my students dont get bored, i made them practice hands on and well, turn out exciting for them. I learned that be prepare always or way ahead of time
Planning is very important in teaching because the students will know how much you know and how well you know your topic and how successful are you in your profession. They judge you the way you deliver, explain,reason and handle the presentation and students will know that they will learn a lot from you. Talk with sense.
It is critical to be able to make sure our first impression is professional. It would look bad on an instructor to show up and not have a syallbus present, or not know what the class will entail. Afterall if we do not know what is going on, then how will our students know what is going on in the class.
Also by preparing early, we can make sure our lesson plans are in line and will benefit the knowledge of the students vs. wasting time or missing important aspects of the field that need to be taught.
