Hello,
Taking a class, such as this one, helps me to remain focused on creating the best learning environment for my students.
I also try to tune in to each new class. Each class has its own unique personality, so even though I stay focused on the course objectives, the way my students learn those objectives may differ from one class to the next.
I think that you can do both at the same time, and also that when you are new to a topic you have the advantage of knowing what it is like hearing it for the first time; you can relate to your students in a very direct way and this will help you design lesson plans keeping that in mind.
This is a strangely-worded question -- I found it hard to understand.
Learning more about the topics I teach comes naturally and at an even pace, since I practice what I teach (directing movies) in real life. I come across new information and knowledge all the time.
Watching students assimilate information in class can help tweak the way things are covered. It also gives insight into how to continue to develop the class. I take notes during and immediately after class, and I take full advantage of those notes in future classes. It helps to do some homework in class, in real time.
I feel that the balance is easy if you approach it with a positive mind set. Additional education is always timely. This can seem to take away from valued preparation time. If one can remember to focus on the positive it helps. The positive in this case is the greater your depth of education becomes on any one subject the deeper your understanding of the subject also becomes. This understanding of the subject makes it easier for you to branch out and use different teaching styles and techniques. So yes it is time consuming on the front end, but makes the work load flow at the back end.
Scott -
This is a great way of staying up to date. Sometimes when people become faculty they are afraid to learn anything new, afraid it will challenge their authority. But I believe that the greatest teachers are also the greatest learners. Your students are lucky to have you!
Lou Russell
I constantly read up on materials to learn more about the topics I teach. This gives me the ability to change my teaching techniques not only to help the students but it also keeps me from getting into a rut teaching the same way over and over again
Donald,
What a great benefit for great faculty. Taking the time to learn and grow is a critical part of doing a great job helping others learn.
Lou Russell
Every instructor has time set aside during the week to complete non-teaching tasks like attending seminars, doing research, etc. We also have instructors set in on others classes and observe. Thus yields very useful feedback on how all of us are doing.
Raymond,
That's true with the really great faculty. However, some people learn a little and then get very protective about what they know. They stop learning and this does not translate into a great experience for the students. Whenever I feel the urge to close my eyes to new research or something that contradicts something I've believed, I try to push myself through, and it is always worth it.
Lou Russell
I agree with Jean's comments. It is now front page news that the more you tesch a sodject the more you know that subject. Then you will find yourself a better Facilitator.
LaWanda:
Welcome to the course!
I agree that confidence is important and confidence comes from great preparation. A great learning facilitator also has to be humble, always learning how to improve their classroom delivery, and never feeling like they know it all!
Lou Russell
www.lplusearn.com
lou@russellmartin.com
You are absolutely correct - one must be confident in themselves, in terms of understanding the material and if they are not research, study, discussion with experts, etc.
As an instructor at a facility with pre-prepared lectures I found that EL allowed me to turn long lectures into in-class exerecizes that provided all the necessary notes and data while performing some sort of tasks. This not only helped the students for obvious reasons but I no longer dread getting to THAT lecture. Students can tell if you are not into the subject instantly and will turn you off immediately. I had no control over the content of the lecture but I had control over how it was presented so I played with it and now we have fun. Others may find themselves in a simialr situation where you don't have authority to change the content so perhaps you can try changing the presenting of it.
I loved your comment about past struggles - that is so true. We sometimes forget that learning occurs and is retained best when there is a disconnect. Usually this is a 'mistake' or some kind of difficulty. It is important to allow students to make mistakes in a safe place (our classrooms). I share your belief that a great facilitator of learning must be a life-long learner in order to facilitate learning.
Have you used Accelerated Learning before?
Lou Russell
One need is as important as the other. To learn more about the topic gives the instructor that comfort and assurance of preparation and knowledge. The need to develop as an instructor comes from past struggles and dissapointments involving his/her own delivery of material. Both of these needs connect to not being able to reach a student in the alloted time we are in their presence. This makes a case for both effectiveness and efficiency. Accelerated learning improves both of these. The facilitator must be a constant learner however to bring this together.
These are great topics to apply experiential learning to because OBVIOUSLY they are not topics that people learn through lecture. That explains your enthusiasm!
Lou Russell
www.russellmartin.com
Lou, For the school that required I enroll in these CEUs I teach a variety of courses related to Quality Systems Management. For other schools I teach those topics as well as OB, OD, Strategic Human Resource Management, and Leadership. Laurie
Laura:
What types of classes do you teach?
Lou Russell
I've found that the best way to grow as a learning facilitator is to do just-in-time education to apply to real-world projects. I am fortunate to teach in a field that allows to me to engage in this type of teaching. This applied learning creates situations in which there are always new things for me to learn because, while the basic knowledge is the same, the way it is applied always varies.
Petrus,
Yes, I think knowledge has become more available and more complex at the same time. Combine that with the fact that everyone is moving so quickly, we have to use whole brain techniques to cover complex learning objectives quickly with maximum retention.
Lou Russell
