Hi Lily,
Your key point about showing your students that you are human is a good one. As you remember from the first course one of the key elements of success for instructors is to be a good model. A model is one that shows students respect and caring.
Flexibility is a key ingredient to successful teaching. As you mentioned you can plan in advance for what you what the course to look like, the requirements, etc. but there is always the need for flexibility when the students actually enter the classroom. Each class is different as well as each student and you must have within your planning the ability to meet those differences.
Gary
I agree, I try to learn as much and gather as much information about my students as possible. Although I strive for professionalism in my image, I also take time out to show students that I am a human being who cares about their well being, goals and success. Planning for your students are best done early - yet I have learned that I must be flexible as well, as each class I encounter new and different students.
Hi Russell,
An instructor that strives to improve each time he or she teaches will constantly work on ways of gaining information about the characteristics of the current group of students. A suggestion would be to develop a method of identifying the characteristics of the students that can be done at the beginning of the class. This method will save time and allow for better planning for the course.
Gary
