Being prepared. Make sure you have all the materials and equipment needed and practice your lecture and demos and activities.
Hi Kelly,
I can tell you put forth great effort to do a fantastic job. Keep emulating these fine traits; you will win every time.
Patricia Scales
Practice humility in your relationships and job duties. The whole reason I am an instructor is to help train and prepare people for their new career. I don't know everything, so I don't need to act like I do. If there is a question I don't know the answer to I admit it and say I will research the answer.
Keep the classroom discussions professional by steering away from personal issues taking taking over the discussions.
I truly appreciate an instructor that is organized and prepared. That being said, I also like an instructor (and try to emulate this)who can vary from their agenda for a good class discussion but bring us back on task.
I try to review all powerpoints, notes, and handouts before class. I also write any upcoming due dates on the board.
Hi Martin,
Great advice to the newbies! It sounds like you are thoroughly prepared for your classes. Keep up the good work! Continue to shine as an educator!
Patricia Scales
My classes are short and basically the same. I am prepared a week in advance for each class including the spreadsheet that I use for grading and attendance. After the class introduction, I bring in the school's librarian to demonstrate the college's EBSCO database. There is very little lecture in the course as is mandated by the college catalog. Later in the course I bring in a guest speaker from Career Services to do a presentation on resumes' and coverletters. I have computer access to pull their finals which start on day 5 of the class. Finals are broken down for each section of their training and scheduled when they should have finished the required training sections.
All of this is presented quite clearly on their syllubus and updated on the white board at the front of the classroom before each 4 hour class.
I take attendance each class and vocally verify what they should be doing that day.
Since you should already know your subject and have gone the material you are presenting everything should go smoothly.
My recommendation for new instructors is: fully know the course you are presenting so you can easily answer any questions that will be ask!
Confidence in yourself is your best ally.
If you need to do a lot of lecture and you are not sure how it will go; practice on a friend or co-worker.
Hi Jonathan,
It is always a good practice to try to ease students fear. I can see how this exercise can give students a calming affect.
Patricia Scales
Making the most of the first class. You really can set the tone for the class by establishing that professional rapport.
I also use an 'activity starter' to get me going and to feel comfortable with them. It may involve an analysis of a picture or a problem that they should discuss for a few mintues in groups. This 'starter' helps them to feel more comfortable and helps me as an instructor to ease them into the material.
Hi Larry,
Life is a learning process. I consider myself as a life-long learner.
Patricia Scales
Hi Rose,
Do not let the mistake part scare you. If you make a misake, so what? You are human. Correct the mistake and move forward.
Patricia Scales
Be very well prepared at all times and remember to maintain your professional boundaries. As instructors, we are not there to be friends but teachers and it is up to us not to confuse our students in this area. We also have to be prepared to function well with or without technology!
Make sure you are always well organized/prepared for the class. Do not be afraid to ask for advice/help from fellow instructors - don't let yourself be ruled by your pride. Make sure that you are in charge of the class - that is not an option for delegation.
I fully agree, I always tell my students "any day that I don't learn something new is a day I wasted".
Well this is a "new" experience for me, entirely. I chose this profession because in my previous career, I observed a variety of things that I wanted to correct, change, give insight to, and working in a "preceptor to student" role, this is a great "new" fit; howerver, with this new role, comes the apprehension and "what if I make a mistake" thought that is sometimes overwhelming. So, in reading the information of the learning pod, I see that it is completely natural to have these thoughts, and it is okay to show "human" qualities. Being prepared is key and having the respect of your students and showing them that you sincerely value them as individuals makes all the difference.
Hi Paul,
There is much to be learned from seasoned instructors! Pick their brain every opportunity you get.
Patricia Scales
By speaking with and observing veteran instructors. By taking teaching prep corses. By joining teaching associaions and following their materials on insruction. By making adjustments to your own teaching style over time.
Preparation! Preparation! preparation.
I've had my share of mistakes.
For me the key is to make sure I practice my I.D.E. my lecture delivery.
I want to make sure I'm not entertaining my students but teaching them.
In the beginning that was a fine line for me. So, I learned how important it is to prepare and practice my delivery of my lectures.
from my point of view the common mistake is to judge your students on the basis of your own learning experience. The steriotype works against the teacher. Another mistake is to ignore the reality of the learning process at career colleges where some students start their studies being not prepared for the hardships of learning process
Being prepared and observing how others teach their classes.
Pay Attention, Stay alert, Be fresh in ideas and open to change. Have a passion for what you are doing. Be organized for class and have lessons ready and back up lessons.
