I went in assuming my 18 to 30 year old students were all adults. I was dead wrong. I now assume nothing. I'm now well aware that the class depends on my constant attention in order to function with any kind of direction and control.
I have always taken pride as an instructor in working with students to help change their lives. I have used humor as an effective tool to keep students enthused.
I once used humor that was completly innocent.
However, one student did not share the same opinion. This caused issues for me. I now am extremely cautious to evaluate my students prior to using humor as a teaching aid.
In the begining I was not very clear on my expectations for the class and each individual.I ignored the loud and the rude students, and when I did acknowledge them I was rude and short with them. I was not very prepared in the early years and I suffered because of that.
When I first started I tried to be friends with the students. I discovered this will get some to try and take advantage of you and many to loose respect for you. Classroom control became even more difficult.
I now consider my self firm but fair and although a few students will always resist, my end of course evals say it all. I usually am scored very highly by the majority of the students who take my class.
Just like has been said several times in this forum, being easy does not help the class at all. I taught my first class over a year ago, and noticed very quickly how letting procedure or rules bend one time, for one situation, or one student, things get out of hand. Just like its been said, "you give an inch, they take a mile." So it is easier to stick to the procedures outlined or expected.
MY BIGGEST MISTAKE IN THE CLASS ROOM WAS SIMPLY BEING TO LAX IN THE CLASS ROOM ON THE FIRST DAY.WHICH MAKES IT VERY HARD TO KEEP CLASS CONTROL, SINCE THEN I AM A COMPLETELY DIFFERANT INSTRUCTOR, NOW ON THE FIRST DAY I LAY DOWN MY EXPECTATIONS FOR CLASS AND LAB RULES AND PRSCEDURES IN MY SOP'S AND LET KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND THE CONSEQUENCES IF THEY ARE NOT FOLLOWED. AFTER THAT EVERY ONE KNOWS WHAT TO EXPECT FROM ME WE ALL CAN RELAX AND HAVE A GOOD TIME WITH OUT ANY ISSUES AND CLASS BECOMES FUN.
As a new instructor was I was too easy at the beginning of the course.
Not remembering 30 different student names the first day. Asking them from whench they hail and adding this information to the seating chart has been a big help.
Not setting the rules at the begining of the course is not only difficult on you but on other instructors as well.
Hi Daniel,
Most importantly, you have realized your mistake, and you have adjusted accordingly. Continue to capitalize on your mistakes, and you will continue to shine as an effective instructor. Students love world experiences, keep sharing them.
Patricia
Hi Dean,
Some instructors are like how you were at the beginning. I have always been the warm and fuzzy instructor, and from the very beginning of my teaching career (20 years), I've always been able to develop quick relationships with my students.
Patricia
The biggest mistake I made was in the lab area actually. I would demonstrate a procedure, real time and by myself as the demonstrator. I realised that; 1)I did it way to fast and a lot of them could'nt see. 2)I was the biggest obstruction to them. So from then on, I would pick someone who has never performed the task and walk them through it. That way I could watch to see if everyone could see the task being performed, I could jump in if they needed a little help and someone would get a new skill and a boost in confidence.
The biggest classroom mistake i probably made was early on in teaching I finishing the material way to fast and not having a back up plan. I have since learned to relax and use the resources avaiable to give the most to the students, and in the event of being ahead of schedule to have back up course related task to play with.
Based on what has been submitted so far by other instructors it looks like I have made the same mistakes listed at least once in the six years I’ve been teaching. I try not to dwell on the mistakes from the past but I do try to focus on what I have learned from my mistakes and how to avoid repeating them again in the future. When other instructors mention mistakes they have made I encourage them and share how I overcame similar mistakes.
A mistake i made when i first started teaching was to be to easy on the students and quickly lost control of the class. I have found that being firm at the start of the class and giving them clear expectations keeps you in control. When you kntow the subject, treat your students with respect and treat everyone fairly they will repect you.
My biggest mistake was going through the notes to fast and getting done too soon.I relized what i had done so i devoleped some lab tasks to match what we had gone over in class.I now plan my lecture and space things out more and give the students some real world experances that go along with the lesson.
Hi Thomas,
Simply, know where to draw the line when it comes to teacher/student friendship. I have a good rapport with the majority of my students, but they know I am a stickler for policy, and I treat all students the same, regardless.
Patricia
Hi Richard,
What a good point to make? No two people teach the same way, and it is always good to get pointers from other instructors to get ideas as to how they would explain a concept. It is amazing what you can learn from your colleagues.
Patricia
Hi David,
Always start off firm/strict, and you can always ease up rather than doing the reverse order.
Patricia
Hi Bernard,
As instructors, you have learned, sometimes we have to be the bad guy because we MUST enforce rules, policies and procedures. Sometimes students do not like our decisions.
Patricia
