Here are the lessons for your course...except for Day One
As I went charging into my new lecture class, History of Art: The Renaissance to the 20th Century, I was handed all the course materials. Syllabus, PowerPoint presentations, book, quizzes, worksheets...everything. Well, almost everything. As I was prepping, I looked at the course calendar, and it indicated that Day 1 was a review of Middle Ages and the Late Gothic Period. Looking for the slideshow so I could get acquainted with the lesson, I discovered that I had every class covered EXCEPT for the first day's lesson! I made a rather mad scramble to create a lesson that seemed to fit in with the other lessons. I used the book as a guide, and hopefully my presentation wasn't too much of a snooze fest. I initially felt rather hung out, but I rather liked what I put together much more than the other lessons I've done. They pre made lessons seem to leave out a lot and are full of information that seems suspect at times, often containing more opinion that fact. Looking back, I'm glad I had to come with Day 1 at the last minute. Anybody else get handed their course materials only to go in and start revising it?
I find some of the preset slides a bit confusing at times. Like; What was this person who wrote the slides trying to pull out me at this bullet point?
I try to make sure I do a good review beforehand so I don't stumble upon a slide I don't feel the need the to fake myself through.
Lyndsie,
Well said. The key to instructional improvement is constant change. I have been teaching for many years and each time I teach a course I implement new things that I believe will make the course even better. Lets me be creative and stay interested in what I am teaching.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
While I am glad I do not have to have that hat handed to me, I am in a similar situation. I have all of my powerpoints pre-made for me, but they are somewhat monotonous. I plan on going through and not only verifying all of the information, but also making it more personal as well. Sometimes revision isn't always a bad thing.
I was handed everything but not in time to do much with it and what was there was REALLY a snooze fest. You were lucky. I said I was handed everything, actually what I was handed was a power point (or 8) but no book, no study guide, and no reference materials until I was 3 weeks into an 8 week course.You may have had to scramble but at least you and your students were on the same page.
Christopher,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I know many other instructors have been where you were. I am sure we are going to get some good discussion in the forum from those that have had to start revising before they even got settled into the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
