i defenitly agree with this there will be times that i may mix up informatiion and have to correct my self.
Hi William,
What great comments. You capture in these words the reasons why many of us are educators, the joy of sharing and learning. The growth we get to experience each time we teach a course and the life long relationships we develop with our graduates.
Gary
What I always find exciting about this field is the amount of knowledge gained from each class. As instructors we do our best to keep up on the latest technology, but the students, at least the ones that care, are more intune with what is happening. In one of the classes I teach we have the students do a short presentation on electronics related technology in the automotive field. I await these presentations with excitement, some of the groups do an amazing job (power points with animation and sound!)
To the point I agree, I do not know it all, and am willing and anxious to learn. Each class gives me that opportunity. If a student asks about a subject I am uncertain about, after class we will do some research into it and during the course of the class we will relay that info to the rest of the class.
I as well have repeatedly told my students that I "Don't know it all". I have encouraged them to prove me wrong, knowing that a tidbit of information was intentionally put to them. With them knowing something is wrong with this info., it almost becomes a game of "Who can figure it out first".
Good Point! I teach in the medical field and the one thing that I stress to my class is that it is impossible for anyone to know all that there is to know about the human body in relationship to health and disease. One of the most important things to master in any field is where to find the answers. I am constantly guiding my students to utilize all available resources.
At the school that i teach in we have a lot of information compiled for an industry that is in constant flux. Sometimes when I don't have the answer i encourage my students to come up with a strategy and try it out in lab. Even if the way they try doesn't work I always give credit for a new angle as long as it is thought out, then we share the results with the class and see what ideas we get from the group.
Steve, you make some excellent points. I think it is very important that students realize that we really don't 'know it all'. I am very comfortable sharing information about myself with my students; I want them to know I am a human being and I make mistakes - just like everyone else. I think it is also important to couple my 'story telling' with a message that they can use themselves. I, also, agree with you that one should NEVER correct another instructor in class. That has happened to me, and it was simply a difference of opinion on a reading, but I was clearly 'wrong' in my assessment. It was a very uncomfortable class, but turned into a productive discussion for the next class
Hi George,
The use of the inquiry method of teaching is a good one. As you say this engages the students and has them looking for the answers and solutions to problems that they face in the class. This will be of real help to them when they are out in the field.
Gary
If I find myself without an answer to a question.I like to put it on the board and challenge the students to find a better answer than I can find.this does 2 things one it gives the students a challenge to go after and 2 it shows the students you are taking an interest in them personally.
Hi David,
Well said. It is so much easier to just admit you don't know or have made a mistake and move on rather than try to bluff through it as you say. The students will appreciate your honesty and will respect you as an instructor. If you don't as you well know they will keep the incident filed away in their minds and begin to question other things that you do in the class.
Gary
I have seen too many instructors try to talk their way out of a mistake, instead of coming clean and admitting an error. If I am not 100% certain of the information that I am giving, I will let them know, research the info, then come back to them. This way you not only prove you are human but also prove that you keep your word and that they are important to you. One further point, if you do try to bluff your way out of a situation, you lose credibility whenever anything contentious comes up at a later date.
Repport with students is very impotant, for the respect from them and they look up to us as experts in the field.Keep it real and dont over sell with unattainable expectations.
I think it goes a long way to building a report with the students when they see the human side of you. We all make mistakes, and the amount of professionalism we exhibit in the way we correct ourself makes a difference.
I've been doing this for nearly thirty years and am still learning. For sure we make mistakes, but we correct them and move on. The students can relate to an Instructor who has a human side and admits when they've made mistakes.
