Hi Roberta,
Smiling is so helpful as well as contagious. I always win students over with my big bright smile, and I get many smiles in return.
Patricia
First it is always best to start with a smile on your face - it helps with student reception. I like to begin with a question that taps into the student's experience - Ex. Has anyone ever made a baked custard?
Hi Sandra,
What type of icebreakers do you use?
Patricia
Hi Tammie,
I love the guessing game! It is applicable to xrays!
Patricia
Hi Kham,
An instructor must have a very high level of confidence as well as prepare greatly in order to minimize instructor anxiety.
Patricia
Hi Ron,
Students want to hear your personal stories that pertain to the lesson. Students have a genuine interest in instructors real stories.
Patricia
I try to tell a story pertinent to the topic using personal experiences. I make sure to tell them that my stories are real and this seems to keep attention span!
By believing in our capabilities as an educator, we can give off a good vibe to the students that we are professionals. Faith is what should be exhausted along with our knowlegde and experience. A mental overview of ourselves and a good look in the mirror will help us keep in check that we are capable of making mistakes yet never too tired to learn from ourselves everyday.
In xray sometimes you need to be able to understand what a patient is saying, even if they do not say it. On my first day of class, I always play a "guessing game". I have the students come up to the front one by one and write a word on my small dry erase board,(anywhere, where it cannot be seen by the class) and they must use hand gestures, other words, anything they can to get the class to guess their "word" without saying the actual word. They love it! Even the shy ones...
I also use Ice Breakers to start out my new class. I am feel the same, the more calm the class is the more at ease I am which helps me to overcome anxiety.
An appropriate orientation can take some of the mysteries away for a beginning instructor. Just knowing the chain of command and who to reference can take away a huge portion of the "what if's". I began by co-teaching my first class in healthcare and was able to ease in much more comfortably because of the immediate safety net my peer offered.
Hi Carol,
I also like to have more than what I need for a class lecture. I like to have at least two lectures worth of material so that I do not have idle time.
Patricia
The hardest thing to do is to get prepared and then get a good nights sleep. That is easier said than done. Practice the lecture, outline it and research beyond what the students need to know, so you can knowledgably answer the questions.
The best thing any new instructor can do is Prepare prepare prepare and have a plan A, B, and C. Also realize that the nervousness you feel before a new class is normal. Even seasoned speakers have it, realize its normal and use it to help you focus and have that edge to take control of the class.
Hi Teague,
Being prepared is the key to being ready. You want to begin teaching. and you are clam because you are prepared. In your mind you are saying, "on your mark, get ready, set, go!
Patricia
Two ways to overcome pre-class nerves and anxiety are, arrive early and talk to students as they arrive, this will help to relax you through communicating w/ a few students in the room and secondly, by being over prepared for the class.
Hi Mardi,
You have it! These are sure ways to minimize instructor axiety. I like how you mentioned (over prepared). I tell my new instructors that you should always have two days worth of work planned for a class period, just in case you finish the planned lecture early, you can move forward and do not waste time.
Patricia
Being prepared (even over prepared), being organized, and always have a back up plan.
To reduce anxiety, i show up early for class to ensure that any media I'm using is working properly.
