I agree. It's especially hard when you're close to the same age as all of your students, and some students are natural "leaders" and don;t like to take direction. Usually with those I delegate them as leaders of group work.
Nancy, what actions do you plan to take within the next 30 days and within the next 30 weeks to make maximum use of the information you have learned in the class? Thanks for anything you can share.
James Jackson
Using knowledge and skill in the topic is vital, however the tools required for teaching needed need continual refinement. I enjoyed the concepts that where discussed in this course. They were a great eye opener especially considering the type of instructors. I enjoyed assessing my style and figuring out some areas in which I can improve.
Edna, you get it and obviously understand the importance of going that extra inch to gain an entire mile. Education is not a one size fits all situation. Each student has a different need and for some additional time before or after classroom time is critical to taking learning to the next level. Thanks for your dedication and keep up the great work.
James Jackson
Jim, excellent topic and great post. Too often instructors feel they must be perfect in the eyes of their students and can never show they make mistakes. By being honest and showing students that we all make mistakes and can actually learn from them we build a safer learning environment and build better trust within our students. Thanks for bringing this critical topic forward and keep up the great work. Your students are very lucky to have you as a mentor.
James Jackson
Michael, well stated. For some students thinking independently can be a real challenge as their natural environment may not require such skills. Critical thinking, creative thinking and problem solving are all part of modern day information literacy but are also skills that need to be taught and practiced. Does your institution have any specific courses that train students to think critically and creatively and to be problem solvers? Thanks for anything you can share.
James Jackson
I believe in being professional with my students so that I will be a positive role model for them to be professional when they seek employment in a professional field of business. I am the director of a career school and we pride ourselves on professionalism. I also feel that having classroom management skills like that of a "Guide" are important in having a successful class with successful outcomes. *Being very competent, developing an excellent rapport, a well organized classroom, loving the subject and enjoying the role, helping students develop skills in active learning, and exhibiting enthusiasm. I also feel that encouraging student to think for their selves is very important.
As a recently retired computer programmer with some 40 plus years of experience I able to impart my knowledge and experience of computer programming to my students. I am very willing to say that I don't know something "but WE can look it up" and WE will find the answer. I encourage questions, discussions, and sharing on the various topics we cover. Having been bit in the posterior many times in my life, I like to use the phrase "He who makes no mistakes does nothing." Students are impressed when I admit that I am an imperfect human but always try to do my very best. I not afraid to tell them I can and do make mistakes on a regular basis.
I believe an instructor will have good classroom management when he treats all the students as adults and with respect. I insist that the classroom rules are followed. I try to be a good example by ensuring that I follow the rules myself. When students see the consistency of holding each and every student accountable for the rules in the same manner they can begin to build trust in the instructor.
I like to say "be real". The same as honesty. Very important. I truly care about my students. If there is a problem with a student, I have learned that usually the most effective thing to do is to talk to them after class and ask,as their instructor, how can I help them.
Scott, well stated. Be fair but firm and treat everyone equally but do not operate like a robot. Take full advantage of being human and making professionally focused decisions with any given situation. No two situations are 100% alike and each requires an instructor to use their best judgement.
James Jackson
Nancy, a good guide will always be in control. Do not confuse the two as mutually exclusive.
James Jackson
I feel that a combination of the controller and guide have work for me in my 27 years of teaching. I have found that it will depend on the dynamics of the classroom atmosphere. Some classes are enthusiastic, polite, professional and a joy to work with. I have had other classes that are the opposite and I have felt the need to be more controlling until we have established a rapport.
I agree. Being respectful towards students and maintaining professionalism is most important. It is how you earn their respect.
I agree with many of these posts. I think that along with all of these traits one of the biggest traits is the ability to be flexible when dealing with a diverse community of learners. My class consistently has student coming in and graduating, and the dynamics change. I am never quite sure how the students will get along and how that will affect the classroom. It shouldn't affect my instruction and that is when classroom management and flexibility really help me to manage the diverse classroom.
A good instructor in my opinion has to have respect for the people in the class. If respect is given, respect is often returned. Yelling and screaming is not often well received. At the same time the instructor must be firm, and consistent with the rules. You don't want to be portrayed as a pushover.
Chanel, instructors that can guide the learning process through control and an intelligent heart tend to achieve all of their desired learning objectives. Great post and thanks for sharing.
James Jackson
Christopher, firs allow me to say thanks for your service to our country. Leading by example is a critical skill and keeping students engaged is essential to effective transfer of knowledge. Thanks for sharing and keep up the great work.
James Jackson
Sharon, outstanding comment about learning from our students. Any instructor that feels they have nothing to learn from their students should not be teaching in my opinion. One of the great aspects of teaching is the constant exposure to new questions and new ways of looking at older concepts. Students ask questions that can make us as instructors think differently and require us to be creative in our approach to teaching. We need to treasure the questions that we do not have immediate answers and thank those students that allow us to rethink out approach to teaching a specific subject matter.
James Jackson
andrea, great point about having an upbeat and energetic classroom environment. With over 5000 instructors making comments over the last several years this has been a very positive trend with respect to such instructors not needing a lot of disciplinary actions.
James Jackson
Good instructors must be even-tempered; it is very difficult to make the best and most diplomatic decisions if you are feeling overly emotional about what is happening in the classroom. Successful instructors also need to be committed to their job and their students, and have the will to carry through with discipline and rule enforcement, even though these are not, for most people, the most desirable aspects of teaching. Also, an instructor who engages students and creates an upbeat and energetic classroom environment will likely encounter less need for disciplinary action.
