I try to read as much new information about a course material from the different classes I instruct.
I believe most instructors need more help in developing a syllabus with proper content for the course they teach.
I think every class is different as to how I put the information across to the students. The personality of the class has a lot to do with what will work for them to understand the material. CEE courses and other sources of training are very importanr as far as learning new ways to work with each group of students.
My thoughts are to engage the students in the introduction of the class. Ask them what their thoughts are on the different areas and how the knowledge from these areas are going to affect them in the job market. Explaining how the course is laid out gives them some things to shot for and what to expect.
From what I have seen in some situations the instructor isn't constant in what they say and after the first day be come more and more leanant in rules and goals. There is also TOO much time spent on none course related dicussions.
i generally give a complete profile of myself at the very beginning of the course to show my knowledge and capabilities. i also use many different teaching techniques and disscussion techniques from examples i or other people have had or expierienced. plus i try to always relate material to them as how it will benefit them in both success and monitarily.
i believe alot of instructors especially newer ones need to learn how to deliver material with confidence and enthusiasm.
i go to seminars and watch and listen how they are delivered and try to incorperate there skills into my lessons.new material,new ideas keep us refreshed and up to date on changes in this industry.we the instructors could use more up to date info to keep the students interested in there future.
I like to observe other instructors present material both in lecture and lab as much as possible. Many times I can pickup additional technical information and delivery techniques that I can incorporate into my presentations.
Trying new delivery techniques and then using the ones that work best in my presentations helps keep the material fresh and the students engaged and also makes my job more enjoyable.
I have found the CEE courses to very helpful also.
Having the opportunity for instructors to observe other delivery methods would help keep an instructor from getting into rut.
Since our cirriculum ia mostly standardized I try to give students personal examples of how I was able to repair vehicles with this knowledge or maybe had difficulty because I didn't have this knowledge. If I don't have any of my own examples for hte material I try to draw from my observations of other instructors teaching the material.
I think sometimes instructors get in a rut and need to observe other instructors teaching. This can help them formulate new plans for delivering the material they normally teach even if the instructor they our observing is teaching a different course
To maintain the status as an IDM I believe is the hardest part for us to do because of our background as technicions. In this industry we are working by ourselves in a lot of cases in the middle of a bunch of other technicions doing similiar work. This is where we need to change our mind set from what can I do and this is mine to how can I help you and what do you need to succed. In this area of training I use the CEE material with not just the idea of get it done but the idea of how do I implement the material into my teaching methods to help improve the student retention of the material not just for taking a test but for long term in work area retention. I also havev purchased some informational CD's on communication and understanding others for developing a better foundation for working with a wide variety of people and working well with all of them and trying to understand where they are coming from in regards to background and the basic understanding they have of how life works.
I do the CEE courses, talk to other instructors to see how they are doing things in the classroom, & last I will ask to sit in their class to watch how they are delivering the information to get more ideas to use in my delivery.
I think what we need help with is keeping the students attention during all parts of the course & their training. Some students just check out when the course/instructor doesn't challenge them or they think the information doesn't pertain to them.
