Clay,
this is a great way to stay up to date & grow as a teacher. Combining this with learning new educational methodology is a great way to be very powerful in the classroom.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
for the first year in teaching and also having 29 years of exper. i find mtself learning more in class each and every day than on the job in a year
Every classroom I facilitate is completely different with different student dynamics. I really have to play to the room because the changes in the personality of the students. I am always reinventing new dynamics to keep them coming back, as well as, listening to to their own discoveries on the subject at hand. My best classes tend to be an even flow and exchange of ideas.
I continue to work in the field in which I teach, so I am constantly learning new ways to use technology. Many of the methods make using technology more efficiently, so I am able to discuss these new uses with my classes to streamline content.
Changing things up in the classroom is a must. Students tend to loose focus if there is only one style of teaching. Therefore it is important to carry on with games, discussion, and Q & A sessions. I always feel the students attitude from the start of the day to the end of the day. If the students show slugish signs I implement games for example to help them stay focused.
cory,
that is great & exciting to see. This is also a great way to keep the learning going for the students by encouraging them to find out more & more for themselves.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I find that my students bring questions about the newest auto tecnologies often. it sparks interest in me, and it must have piqued theirs, or they wouldnt have asked.
Whatever we were discussing must have sparked a thought toward their question, so it's the perfect time to wrap past, present, future tech around the subject / question at hand.
I LOVE the chance to "tie it all together" like that !
I am teaching in the hi end european automotive industry and have to constantly stay up on ever changing technology so i am allways learning and try to have my students learn with me when new changes occure in technology
Michael,
this is a great method as it helps keep you fresh & also incorporates more technology into the classroom which can help engage the students.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Wesley ,
this is definitely a challenge. I would say the review of the material is a great way to start & as you become more familiar, perhaps you can devote some of that time to studying new teaching methods as well.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Honestly, I have really had to step out of myself and understand it's OK to say, "I don't know." What I've done now is incorporate it into class via cell phones. I know many teachers don't allow cell phone usage in class, and I don't for frivolous use. However it can be really beneficial in utilizing it as a resource for learning. I learn more about the questioned topic and the student knows how to find information on their own!
I am always looking for TV shows and educational videos about my subject. Newer technology, and changing codes, make teaching about the "now" and how it compairs to a possible future, a fresh perspective on the evolvement of teaching. It also gives the student the opportunity to see that the instructor is a learner too.
William,
Other instructors have given me points that help in the classroom. The more we work as a team in teaching the better studnet outcomes that will occur
Dr. Meers,
Before I teach any of the five week modules I like to look over the material before the class. The more time I review the material the better ways Ican teach in the classroom. Students want an instructor who is experienced within their field of the study. Our modules move quickly here at Brown College but I make sure to take at least an hour a day to devote to classroom study to make sure I am the most prepared possible. Though is there enough time within to develop new ways with such time constraints?
Talking with coworkers and their various teaching styles/activities always works to serve these purposes. Depending on the activity, classroom time will work to your benefit if you plan accordingly.
Diane,
this is a great example to your students as they see you & your willingness to learn & grow & adapt.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Mike,
and there is a balance between learning more about my content area & learning more about better instructional techniques.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I always am looking for articles or stories happening in current events to relate the course content to things that are happening now. Being able to say "Did you guys see this in the news over the weekend?" can really help get the students to relate and give real world examples. I also usually try to have some sort of "activity" and discussion in addition to any kind of lecture I do. Keeping up with current events related to my course is a great way to bring new methods of teaching to my class.
I ask students about their learning styles or have them take a learning style assessment to find out how I may need to restructure some of my lessons each term. I also collaborate with other instructors in order to gain new knowledge or bridge some cross-curricular gaps. Sites like Pinterest or some online interactive websites have also helped me to learn about how to teach topics I have been unfamiliar with or that have gotten stale. Since I am a student as well as an instructor, I point out things about my own learning and experiences to my students and often take their suggestions or allow their perspective on topics to be center-stage in the classroom.
As a learning facilitator I balance the need to learn more about the topics I teach by using a variety of books on the subjects, and the wealth of information on the internet. I also use the wealth of information provided by online classes such as this for new ideas on teaching techniques. It has also helped me to talk to students present and past on what teaching techniques have helped them learn and make a class interesting in the past.
