Styles
How do you know if your style is not being appropiate for the students?
I have been trying to stress these points to my students and at the same time, as a new instructor, trying to keep it in mind as I learn new techniques for my lectures.
I agree we need to be a people person and arrange to our class
Hi Jon,
Nothing like experience to get you settled into a profession is it? Like you say the more you do it the more you understand what you are doing. Teaching is the same as when you were learning your career area. Experience gives confidence.
Gary
If you use simple expressions or biody language from your students you will, with practice, be able to tell if you are getting through to the students and if they are engaged in the course. It takes a while but I have found out that the more you teach the easier it is to read the class.
I good instructor needs to be able to teach to all learning styles.
Hi Heidi,
I like your approach to learning preferences. I also believe that we have to use a variety of learning styles or preferences in order to meet the different styles of the students. Even though students have preferences they need to learn how to take in information through different avenues since in the work world information will come to them through different delivery channels and they have to be able to understand and work in these channels.
Gary
I agree that we don't know what styles to use on the first day of class. As the days go by however, it becomes more clear how you will deliver. by adapting to all styles, I find my students are more than one style and they can learn more when they are exposed to all styles.
Teaching should be respectfull to the students and yourself and all others around you. I think that uniqueness is great instead of dull and boring but it should never cross a certain line and everyone should know which line to draw. Ward
Hi Rosa,
By the feedback you receive from your students. You can read their body language, the questions they ask and the attention they give you. Also, if a number of your students are struggling with the content it may be because you are presenting it in a style that doesn't hit upon theirs.
Hand out 3x5 cards and have them write their comments about how a project, lecture or activity went. Don't have them sign their names and you will receive candid comments that will be of great help to you. I have never had negative or attacking comments using the process, though I have had candid assessments of what I was doing.
Try and let me know how it works.
Gary
