I like to invite my students to share there experience of the culinary world and if they are not aware of new trends to investigate aqnd bring back some insight. We then discuss the ways in which the classical model of our culinary education applies to the new trend and how it will affect the industry. It is always great when students help to expose the class to new techniques and get so passionate about their learning while helping you to grow as an learning facillitator.
David
I can tell you really like what you do. I like how you continue to stay current and learn new technologies in your field. Your experience in the field brings knowledge of past technologies and new technologies and shows how both new and old technologies work together.
I believe in your approach and also share the same feelings in applications.
As I grow more familar with the text (primary need to be prepared for class) I increase time i can spend on creative activities, learning tools and activities to incorporate into my teaching.
Our school is very good at obtaining the latest editions of the text in my field. I spend hours of prep time before the term starts learning the new material (usually different vocabulary). That prepares me. I constantly use old editions of texts to find the best activities to envolve the students in active learning.
The need to learn more about the topics I teach and the need to develop new ways of teaching + my classroom time, I balance by educating myself firsthand on the subject by doing research and educating myself on the latest informations and technologies regarding the subject. This might also involve taking a class as well as continuing education courses.
During my research and study on the subject i usually get ideas on how to bring new methods og guidnce or teaching to students to help them succeed in their learning process.
Because I am in the department of teaching/ instructing, I make myself more knowledgeable about the topic(s) I teach by educating myself and staying on top of what is happening in the field.
I do this not only to be a better instructor for the students, but also to be better informed about the subject I have my carreer in. I know that things change in the dental health field, and the best thing for me is to stay informed with the changes going on.
Tom,
I too have found this to be true. It's interesting to see their interest level rise when I talk about something that I recently read or learned that is related to the field/information
Dr. Ryan Meers
My students appreciate it when I give them fresh information, particularly when they can see its relevance to their world. Thus, they’re more willing to contribute their input, such as questions, concerns and suggestions, all of which I discuss with them and consider. My interest in their ideas has often changed the dynamic of the classroom, making the lessons more intellectually stimulating for them, which keeps them coming back for more.
Marcia,
stick to it! I personally think that knowing the correct grammar, spelling, etc of English also helps us formulate our thoughts & ideas better, even if we're not writing them. It teaches us how to structure, very important.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Hello Dr. Meers,
I've been teaching English now for almost 30 years and while the language and all of its idiocincracies have not changed in eons, the application certainly has. In today's technical world, students find it increasingly harder to understand why they have to write or correct sentences for practice, or why they have to contruct their own paragraphs--they want to let a computer do it all. I tell them that while the computer is a great tool, they are untimately responsible for the content (grammar, spelling, punctuation) of what they might be required to deliver to a boss or supervisor and that is why I am so hard on them even though we have fun writing assignments that apply to the business world.
Patricia,
This is a great idea & to me illustrates one of the best ways to improve our instruction: observing others. It's amazing what we can pick up simply by spending a few minutes observing another instructor.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Erica,
Great example of continuing to learn & update your skills. When we share these experiences with our students we demonstrate that we are interested in improving ourselves as well.
Dr. Ryan Meers
This is a constant challenge. Getting in a rut to do the same old thing is so easy but if I see something great another instructor is doing I try to incoporate it into my teaching style. Recently I saw an instructor do a self check on her power point presentation. At the end of the presentation there was a 5 to 8 question class participation quiz. The instructor was checking to see if she got the main ideas across to her students.
I thought this was great. I now have added these class participation quizzes to my power points.
I participate in many massage continuing education course to keep me current and up to date with all the new trends and with the licensing. I recently attended a work shop and took away a few new ways to teach basic massage skills in the clinical setting.
Dr Ryan,you have put it in very good words,times have changed and with time we need to change or make the change in whatever we do specially in the field of teaching.
amina,
And for the vast majority of us, our fields definitely do not remain stagnant or unchanging so we must be keeping up to date with our fields.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I also think, learning is a lifelong process, there is no end to it,so yes as we facilitate our learners ,we have to be the first ones to learn what we teach,knowledge and experience helps us with this,each day we see changes around us some good some not so good, but that is the ever evolving world we are in.
I really like this,it seems like you are learning yourself while finding new ways for each new start.
amina,
This is a great strategy. I try to incorporate one new teaching method I've never used before in every class & then try to reflect on how it went & how it could be improved.
Dr. Ryan Meers
david,
Isn't it interesting that when we do this we sometimes feel as if we aren't using class time effectively? Yet in reality this is a great way for the students to connect class content to real issues.
Dr. Ryan Meers
