Hi Doreen!
Good observation! I find that from week to week that I must be new and innovative in my classroom. What caught their attention week 1 may not catch their attention in week 2.
Keep up the good work.
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
The teaching/learning dynamic is like walking a tightrope. Balance is everything. As a teaching professional, it is critical to be up-to-date on my academic discipline. But that cutting edge research is wasted if o one "gets it". So, I must also be up-to-date on how to deliver the message so my students can understand and be able to apply what it is I am teaching.
Its interesting to hear also what student feedback, so I always encourage my student to leave a short comment, possitive or negative, that way I can see and ahave a feel if I am being effective lerner and facilator as well as learner.
Off course a lot of us, dont want to hear what the studetn negative feedback.
But how we can fix ourselves to become a better facilatator, instructor or learner, if we ourselves dont want to learn from the them?
Well, first I have to be a learner, intructor then a facilatator. Knowing that you couls also learn from studetn is a good balance to start growing yourself as a Learning facilatator.
We should always remember that we can learn also from the student or from the learner. But we should also be an expert on the topic that we teach, if not then as instructor we should be prepare ourselves from the topics, so when the learners as question we can response accoordingly and give the proper answers, or discuss it further to lead to a positive answer.
As an excellent instructor, it is important to be up-to-date about my topic area. Once I have learned the new materials, it is important for me to convey the information factually and with passion because without me being passionate about the learning materials, the students won't care.
I am fortunate enough to teach subjects in which I am genuinely interested, so I am continuously learning and researching new information to keep my class content current.
To improve my instruction techniques, I first respond to student feed-back and work to incorporate as often as practical, the methods they prefer but that also have demonstrable effectiveness. I discuss the techniques used with my colleagues and try to incorporate their best ideas into my classes as well and I try to remember that every class is different and not every teaching method works with the same effectiveness every time.
To balance the need to learn more with my need too have new ways to teach, I use the knowledge and the experience of my students.
Most of them have something to bring to the table and sharing their experiences enrich my learning process.. and help me to develop new teaching techniques.
Good morning Margaret!
I am developing a first time course offering at a technical school for professional development. I, too, am finding that students are the best resource as I plan for each class. I am able to gain from them what they really need and want.
Good Job!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
Hi Mark!
Good thought!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
Don't try to be more than 1 year current. This way you maintain relavency and also develop a smooth and polished delivery
They go hand-in-hand to me. I ask my students for input and feedback on topics and let them know we are partners in improving the course. I listen to their responses and incorporate them into the syllabus. The result is I learn from them and they help me develop new ways of teaching and presenting information.
Greetings Servet!
I agree that when students are learning, instructors continue to learn as well.
Keep up the good work.
Jane David
ED107 Facilitator
Learning is ongoing process, we never stop learning regardless,Being able to do that create student friendly envirement thus allowing our students freely engage class meterials.
Hi Vivian!
Bravo for you! I believe that we should learn something new daily. Your students are very fortunate to have an instrutor who wants and "cares" about their feedback.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
I am always trying to learn new material by reading, asking questions and sitting in on other instructors' lectures.
My need to develop new ways of teaching comes from identifying new formats and layouts of reading materials, watching other people's best practices and listening to my student's suggestions.
There is no point in knowing all the material in the world if you are not able to pass it on to the students. Therefore, I ask my students at the end of class what they thought of that particular lesson. I adjust my teaching methods constantly.
I often take student's suggestions in my approach to presenting material. I teach math and a technique that works for one student often allows another student to have success in that area as well.
Fantastic Michelle!
Keep up the good work! When you learn - your students learn.
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
I use my free time to research about the topic prior and during class.
I keep current in my field by reading journals and magazines and keeping up with current events. My students are encouraged to give feedback on their surveys and I read through these to see how I can improve my classes. I am a champion of learning from students and I encourage them to share their knowledge and experience on course topics.
BRAVO to you James - real life experiences are always the best!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
