Wow!
This is the forum for me; I have been an on-ground adjunct instructor for 22 months, and this question has been the biggest obstacle to my successful and not-so-successful classes. Adding the classroom cliques and dynamics makes it all the more difficult, to achieve learning, when my knowledge, my intentions and my methods are not in sync. Usually, the difficult students are the first to explore my weakness as they perceive it. This MK clas is helping me see that the expertise in my field of knowledge, can come and support my teaching methods, once I adopt a variety of methods for a variety of students. Sometimes I think I get it and feel really positive of classtime today, and other days I cannot hurry the class through material fast enough. Last night we had synchronicity between knowledge, intention and methods; interaction of students with each other seems to bring most every student (bold and shy) into the discussion, if I probe and monitor their progress. I will be shopping for some "Negasaurus's" in an ecology shop soon. That is a good idea, for helping difficult learners.
Mark
Its a hard, but steady approach of me doing in the process of like a "two step forward and one step backwards". Meaning that the information about the subject I'm teaching I would like to be two step ahead of any possible question and or information that will be needed for the lesson. I always use previous classes as a stepping stool as that what another class could possible look to know that may have come about during the previous class. As I develop and learn more about the subject I still do not use it as a way of saying I know more than the student, but more so as to have learned and studied the subject at hand for possible information to provide the class with.
Hi Jessica!
I like your enthusiasm for learning! I always enjoyed the classroom experience as a learner and I have enjoyed instructing even more. I feel like I learn so much from students - they keep me on my toes to continue learning.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
For my area of teaching I am required to have continuing education every month. These continuing education modules focus on innovations to different areas of drug research as well as different classes of drugs that are changing or being affected in any way.
These modules allow me to update my lectures in a way that I am able to remove material that is no longer relevant as well as adding new material that the students may begin to see when they go on their externships.
Through research - current peer reviewed journal articles to enhance the teaching materials have been very helpful to me. I also will ask the students to conduct research and post at least one peer reviewed journal article (within the last 5 years)and share their articles with others. I will also ask the student to discuss how their article has helped with the learning objective and how they will apply the lesson learned in their workplace.
Well put Doug!In todays world and technology changing so rapidly it is important to stay on top of "Change" so we can keep our students up to date. Having that knowledge to share is priceless and it takes a commitment on our part as instructors to be successful.
I think that it is important to spend time to improve your knowledge in the subject matter, so that you can be a more effective teacher. In addition to this, it is important to learn new methods of teaching to the learners because each person learns differently. It is my responsibility to improve my teaching skills to assist all of my students, understanding what methods is most effective in their learning, and make sure I am sensitive to their learning style. Furthermore, I must be sensitive to the time available during class time, to maximize learning and inspire my students to personally grow and learn inside, as well as outside of the classroom.
Since I am active in my field, I love being a learner and attending continuing education seminars, labs, et cetera. This often gives me new ideas and new energy for the classroom. I also really listen to my students to try to figure out what approach works best for them, and I love to try new things so that I stay fresh and not teaching on "autopilot".
If I do not stay current in my field, then what I am teaching my students will be obsolete in 6 months or less. The field of veterinary medicine changes constantly. If I don't keep up, I have no right to teach my students the material.
Developing new ways of teaching is motivated by my desire to learn more about the topics I teach; just as reading facilitates better writing, continual learning facilitates more inspired, varied, and efficient teaching methods for my classroom time.
When I need to learn more about a certain subject in culinary I either read up on the subject or I even try to make a few dishes so I can experiment on the different spices, cooking techniques and so forth. Then Im able to give my students real examples and even challenges that might find with the cuisine and so fort.
Yes, the challenge is to find a balance between improving instructional techniques and increasing the depth of knowledge about a subject. The balancing of the two is a continuous process and can be managed by continuous assessment of both.
Hi Jacqueline!
I am always very excited about learning something new and I try to role model that to my students. It gives us a common bond and centered objectives - makes us act in harmony!
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
I believe if it is fun to perpare, if will be fun to do for my students. I balance my time by, making all copies for the Mod prior to the Mod starting Then in early
I find that I try to stay on top of industry standards as well as the latest technology, especially when it directly pertains to my subject matter.
I also try to get fresh ideas of different instruction styles by sitting in occasionally on other instructers.
I am new to my role as a learning facilitator but I have a lot of enthusiasm and passion in my subject, which is social science. I set aside time in my schedule to read articles in Newsweek, the local papers and in my professional journals related to my topic. I am regularly tuned in to find new and interesting simulations and discussion questions to pose to my students that relate to the learning objectives of the class. I try to be conscious of multiple learning styles but I am going to try to expand in this area.
I agree !! The more i learn about a subject the more effective I can be in my presentation skills and knowledge to share.
I feel that by learning more about the topics that I teach, I could learn different presentation methods to deliver the new material. Never get "too comfortable" in my ability as a instructor, sit in occasionally on other instructers to get a fresh approach on classroom instruction styles.
Trying to stay current in the field is important. Listening to students! It is amazing how many times I learn new things from my students and I am grateful! I love to talk to other teachers about techniques, what has worked and what has not worked. Frankly, variety is important. I get tired of lecturing for long hours, students need some spice!
I'm lucky to have the opportunity teach a basic class at a culinary school. This affords me the chance for the learners to visit the next class before taking it and see the application of the class with me. You wouldn't believe the questions that arise, which leads to discussion, with details and subjects that interest learners and allows me to research and develop my class information and focus. A little extra time and effort pays off from my research for the benefit of myself and the learners and makes me happier in my position as a facilitator of leaning.
The "Yea, I've never thought of it that way. I tell you what, you find out some info on it, I'll find some info on it and we'll present it to the class." Works for me!
I may know the answers to some of the questions that arise, but don't always answer them. It's more exciting for the learners to be excited about the expertise in the next classes. The conclusion that the learner makes is that they will need to master the learning objectives offered in my class to discuss intelligently the questions they plan to ask in the next classes.
