Hi Ronald,
Not being prepared can cause a complete disaster.
Patricia
I think that the most important thing I can do is to set aside time to prepare. I always try to have more material to cover than the time allows. The worst classes I've had were ones that I wasn't fully prepared for.
Experience is actually one of the best ways I've managed to avoid mistakes. Teaching has been a learning experience, and continuing to be open to learning your mistakes and correcting them has helped me tremendously.
Secondly, being prepared usually means avoiding mistakes. On rare moments where I am flying around at the last moment trying to get my materials and lecture notes together - I typically make small mistakes (forget to say certain things during a lecture - or misplace papers) and it sets a poor tone for the class. I prefer to review my notes prior to lecture too, to refresh my memory on the topics that I need to cover.
Having a plan is great, but as an instructor you also have to be flexible and realize that the dynamic of the class will modify the plan significantly.
Ask other instructors what were the errors that they made and how did they solve them! Most "seasoned" instructors love to share stories about when they were young, new and inexperienced!
Stay focused on the class activities of the day,and maintain class focus on the subject as well.Be prepared and stick to the plan.
Hi Mary,
I like the humor aspect. I also learn from each mistake. Mistakes are bound to happen. Take them in stride and move forward.
Patricia
Be yourself and trust in your instincts.
If you do make a mistake in front of students, use humor, as the module suggests. I tend to say something like, "Oh, my! Instructor error! You get to take points off my grade when you fill out the Instructor Survey."
Hi Lisa,
You've indicated some valid ways to avoid common instructor mistakes. Good job!
Patricia
Prepare for the course
Adapt plans as necessary and according to student needs
Get to know student needs,learning styles, etc.
Listen to the students (get to know your audience).
Hi Eli,
Absolutely! Always pick a veterans brain about teaching. The experienced instructor can teach you many tricks of the profession.
Patricia
Two easy ways to avoid common instructor mistakes are (1) to continually talk with other instructors about their experiences as a way to learn/grow (i.e. don't reinvent the wheel) and (2) to take advantage of learning opportunities such as this one!
Hi Catherine,
Students want to know that you are out there. It is important to make yourself visible as much as possible.
Patricia
Hi Tonia,
It better to start off as a hard nose, then get a little soft, than to start off too soft and try to become hard. Try finding a good balance.
Patricia
Hi Catherine,
What an analogy! We are very judgemental.
Patricia
That's a good point - first impressions are always important and just like creating a website, first impressions are always like how a website is designed and interpreted. Usually, within the first 5-10 seconds, a person determines whether the website design is suitable and useful or not.
NOt be So Military on the first Day, I have stressed students out ti think with that or they take it as I have a bad attitude which in turn is not the case at all.
I would definitely watch my tone of my postings - one thing that I do that my husband laughs at is that I read some of my postings out loud. This allows me to gauge how I sound. Also, I've made a commitment to log on, even if it's to post one post, at least 6 out of 7 days of the week. I find the student satisfaction is alot higher when the students see you are visible!
Hi Catherine,
What are some of things you decided not to do whenever you became an instructor based on your instructors?
Patricia
I basically try to keep in mind of things that I liked and didn't like about instructors when I was an online student. Although in an online environment, it was easy to tell alot about an instructor based on postings and how they worded items in the classroom. I think I've always kept a mental list of these things so I knew that these were things I would not do when I was an instructor myself.
Hi Christina,
We have to be able to accept our own weakness so that we can become even more effective.
Patricia
