Balance is a delicate act, and there has to be an internal sensor in instructors to yearn to do both.
One can learn certain topics and utlize them in class for applicational purposes.
Clearly, Jason, a process of life-long learning!
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I would prioritize the two with mastering the topic first, then approaching different methods for our learners. It's important we are fully knowledgeable of the subject matter and are able to teach to the best of our ability therein. After the matter is comfortable and workable, we should then bring our teaching ability up to a responsible level. As new information comes in regarding the subject matter and teaching methods, we continue to learn what and how to teach respectively.
Learning is definitely a life-long process, Kenneth. As far as I am concerned that is part of an instructors job as well to instill the love of life-long learning.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Hi Michael!
I agree! It's important to continue to challenge the adult learner that's much more mature and focused.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
There is always something a person can learn. I don't care who you are. Learning is an ongoing and lifetime experience. Everyone can ALWAYS learn something!!
Hi Lyn!
It sounds like you do an excellent job at staying informed and up to date.
I've always found my colleagues to have a wealth of knowledge and will often just take the opportunity to have one on one discussions with them.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
The hardest part of this equation is staying on top of the subject matter. Teaching professional adult learners who want to be there is easy. Keeping abreast of latest technologies and getting the expertise from the field is the most critical.
Hello all, time is precious and balancing priorities is something I struggle with as do my students. There are several areas in which I need to stay "up to speed."
Staying current in my field can be done by reading professional journals, newsletters and checking the online blogs for professional organizations. Once in while I try to get to a workshop or attend training seminars.
Learning more about the job of teaching comes from taking courses such as this and from Faculty In-Services provided by my schools.
Keeping the content in the class fresh is probably the most time consuming but is not hard to do if I schedule chunks of time to do just that. :-) Lyn
A lot of times, I realize the need to learn more about the topic from my students. They often have questions that I cannot answer, therefore, I know I need to do some research and come back to them for an answer. As far as new ways of development for teaching, I am always looking at other resources (books, internet) for more interesting materials to share, this also helps me with additional knowledge as well. I often share new findings with my students.
I try to use a couple of different methods that I can use for both learning the material and presenting the material differently.
I have had to do a lot of review on the material that I teach so I try to think about how I would like the material presented to me. I am a very visual learner so I try and make the material interesting with lots of color and visual aides.
Sometimes I worry that I might have crossed over into the edutainment zone, but it suits my personality and I often have students come back to me and say "I miss your teaching because I understood the information when you presented it" so I guess it's working for me.
I find that by taking the time to go on "Industry" tours, seminars, tastings etc. that I keep up with what is the current trend. I translate my learning into relevant topics for the class. An example would be a visit to a local produce company and how one can buy fruits and vegetables effectively; based on quality and price.
Good for you Mike!
Teaching/instructing is just another step of life-long learning. We should be able to learn from our students as well.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I agree with you both. As a new instructor, I am faced with the task of continuing to improve my knowledge base, as well as continuing to improve my instructional skills. I enjoy incorporating games into my lessons and/or silly tricks to spark the attention of my students. I feel that if I lose some students to boredom. I'm not reaching my goal of helping them to reach theirs.
When teaching I feel we should learn as much as we can about the topic we are instructing. I will use several other resource materials, internet searches on the topic to gain as much insight on subject as I can find before I present the information to my class
Hi Kevin!
Absolutely, that is a benefit. I'm forever the optimistist that if your are an instructor that you are either in the business in which you teach OR you in the business of teaching. Either way it's important that we stay informed and at least on step ahead of students.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
Absolutely, Brenda...and in so doing, always be on the lookout for different things which can turn into a teaching aid.
I found an old (1970's vintage) movie once that, upon seeing it on cable, made me realize it would be a great way to teach a portion of my course.
My classes are often multi-cultural in nature, and this movie very aptly showed how the main character crossed cultural boundaries to help people of other cultures get ahead...and in the end, he showed how, despite different cultures, all people react as all people do...that there were far more places in which all agreed than disagreed.
After showing this movie in class, I have one student who came up to me and said, "Thank you for showing this movie...I'd never thought about things that way before." And a couple of other students agreed.
I went home that night feeling as though I really did my job...that I managed to touch those students.
I guess this is where I am fairly lucky in that I work in the business in which I teach. And since I am in a business that literally can change on a daily basis, I stay on the cutting edge of my course topic.
Of course, I am always perusing trade publications and websites looking for handout material for my classes. I almost have to...I can find, though not a lot, a few instances every time we get an updated textbook, where the information in the textbook is already outdated. That's where I find my participation in the actual business in which I teach to be helpful
