I feel that combining the Guide, Controller, and Buddy would make the ideal instructor. I try to always lead by example and yet have some lead way so that my student's feel that they have control of their lives. The manner of Guiding, or controlling the class, I feel depends on the quality of students in the class. I am motivated by my students motivation to learn. There are times I am trying many different techniques to raise the bar, if you would, and yet the students seem lazy and only want answers to exams or quizzes without putting forth effort to earn the knowledge and education. Fortunately, I do make them earn it and I do not give any answers.
As an Instructor I feel that it is important to not only adapt to unforseen classroom problems/concerns but be actively involved in the individual success of each student. Just as Instructors can have different teaching styles, students can have different learning styles and an instructor must be able to ensure they do their best to make sure all students learn the desired material.
An instructor should never set themselves up as a master. It's too easy to knock them off the top of the pyramid this way. In todays world things change almost daily. You might be reading how good something is for you and the next day we find out how bad it is. I like to set myself up mlore as a facilitator. I will be the first to admit I don't know everything there is to know about food and cooking but together we can find the answer we are looking for. Don't dictate this is how things are, but ask how can we imagine things to be and how can we get there together.I must admit though at the begining of a class and I tell my class this, " Let's get something straight right now. At this moment and on this subject, I am the smartest person in the room."
Winnifred, you are so correct in your discussion about student trust and the relationship between trust and students feeling comfortable about asking questions and otherwise engaging the curriculum. Students want to feel safe and know they are not threatened with respect to expressing their lack of knowledge about a subject matter. If they feel that by showing their lack of knowledge they would be the odd person in the classroom their likeliness to ask questions and engage in active learning is very low. Successful instructors or as you pointed out the Guides, are those that can build a sense of security in the classroom and demonstrates that questions are how the real learning takes place. Questions should always be a welcome part of a classroom setting and the students should really guide the lesson plan and not the other way around.
Regards,
James Jackson
The instructor,s style I would say is "The Guide". This individual is an excellent person who can maintain good rapport with students,help students develop skills, is very competent, exhibits enthusiasm etc. I believe that an instructor who shows confidence in their material delivery will be trusted by his/her class, students will be more encouraged to ask questions, interact better and be successful in their course of studies.
Clark, I agree 100%. Teaching is not a spectator sport. The best instructors are very tired and drained by the end of the day. This is part of being a dynamic and caring instructor. Does not matter if the instructor is walking among the students or resourceful as a distance learning instructor and active in getting students involved via virtual active learning activities. The best instructors are always tired by the end of the educational experience with their students.
I also love the focus on plan "B". I would even suggest a plan "C". I always have a lesson plan ready to go if all electricity were to be removed for any reason and alternate technology ready to go in case the technical resources at the facility are not to my needs.
Regards,
James Jackson
Prior planning for the lesson plan. Be as suggested, a guide, through the learning process. Be proactive in class rules,attention spans and dicipline. Always have a plan "B" in case of unforeseen problems.Be highly motivated, start and end class on time, do not get stuck behind your desk and be enthusiastic!
Melissa, you have hit the nail on the head with this one. Technology is great when it works but should never be an obstacle to effective teaching and learning. What did instructors do long before the days of PowerPoint and the Internet? I can assure you they were able to teach their students. I am a huge promoter of technology in the classroom but also feel a successful instructor will be ready to go at a moment's notice if the technology is not working for any reason.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
James Jackson
While functioning as the "content expert" is a vital role for instructors, I think a more important characteristic is adapatability. Many, many times technology we depend on for classroom presentations or activities fails and it is important to have a contingency plan to fall back on. Not only does "plan B" ensure that the objectives are met for the session, but it demonstrates to students the importance of resourcefulness and the ability to embrace change and move forward, regardless of the obstacle presented.
I agree that instructors must be good role models in which they communicate well, are organized, approachable and demonstrate expertise in what they are teaching.If not, they lose their credibility.
Thanks so much for your post Victoria. Can you clarify something for me? I agree with your comments and feel we are on the same page. The sentence where you have "Never talk to them", did you want to enter never to talk down to them? I can see where there could be several interpretations here so I want to make sure I am making the correct assumption and fully understand your point.
Thanks for any clarification you can provide.
Kindest regards,
James Jackson
An instructor should always be honest and supportive of students. They should advise students in a positive and tactful manner. Never talk to them. Treat students with respect and you will be respected.
William, you have really hit the nail on the head with your post. How we as faculty model behavior has more of an impact on student success than instructional design or institutional policy could ever have. A poorly designed course can still have positive outcomes and on the flip side, the best designed course can fail as a result of what role an instructor plays. I myself have four children and what drives me in my teaching is I always imagine one of my children could in my classroom someday and I ask myself how would I teach differently. The answer has to be not differently at all, I would do the same things as this is what my students deserve. Great post and thanks for sharing.
Regards,
James
As a dad, I have to watch everything I do and say around my daughter--every now and then she says some random thing that my wife or I say. She models all that we do as she watches us. Students tend to do the same thing in that they model what we do. If we don't care, the students have less insentive to care. On the other hand, if we show that we are passionate about the subject and passionate about the students learning the subject, then they have more incentive to care. I don't know how many students have told me after a course is over that they now have an appreciation for literature that they never had before--it is an amazing thing.
With this said, a successful instructor will be a model for their students. Second, the instructor must be fair in the rules and policies that they enforce. If an instructor lets one student get by with turning in late work with no penalty, but penalizes another student, that student will not be happy and it may cause discord in the classroom--the instructor needs to be fair with all of his/her students, but of course, at the same time, the instructor needs to be flexible enough to handle different circumstances that arrive in the classroom.
Shannon, very well stated. There are several studies that would agree with your statement concerning the importance of students feeling part of the educational process and taking ownership of their own learning. The works of Vincent Tinto in the 1970’s and 80’s as well as the results of the studies conducted by the National Research Council and the Committee on Learning Research and Educational Practice in the late 1990’s all provide affirmation that students that feel connected to their education get the most out of their educational experience.
Regards,
James
Thanks for your feedback Ruth. Students can sense if an instructor really cares or if they are just there to pick up a paycheck. Effective teaching is not about friendship but it does involve relationship building and creating a work like feel in the classroom. For some students they have never been in a formal environment and their classroom is their only experience into the working world. Even those students that have prior work experience tend to think of education as a place where they can relax. They should feel unthreatened and free to ask questions but the environment should always be formal and within a structured setting. By creating a fear free but structured environment, students are free to learn and engage in constructive discourse and walk away with true learning outcomes.
Regards,
James
I truly believe that it is important for the instructor to make the students feel like they are part of the educational process. I feel it is important to know the students by name and know at least one personal thing about them. I also feel that it is important for the instructor to create a connection between the material and the student's lives. When I teach, I use the students situations and experiences and tie them into the psychological theories that we are discussing and learning about. This really helps the students see the relevance and understand the information. I also think that fair evaluation is a necessity. To expect the students to simply memorize all terms is not helping them understand or use higher order thinking skills, it is simply regurgitation. It is important that the instructor does not act superior to the students and treat them as a means to an end.
I believe that instructors need to have a real care and concern for their students and their learning, not to be their friend. They need to have an understanding of many different means of good positive discipline. The students need to know exactly what the rules and the consequences of the rules are. They need to know what they are going to be learning and the schedule for all work. No mystery learning.
1- In my opinion, instructor traits that are important for good management in the classroom are:
To have excellent rapport
To be very competent
To be enthusiasm
To have personal responsibility for good management and instruction
To be emotionally
Easily adapt to changes in educational plans, dynamic group or teaching conditions.
To be highly motivated
To be well-organized
To be polite
Also, there are some characteristics of the working style of the teacher that are very important for top quality results in a good management classroom. They are:
To help to the students to obtain maximize productivity and potential
To help to students to develop skills in active learning and lifelong learning.
Accustom the students to teacher’s instruction highly interactive and student-centered.
Management style minimizes potential disruptions
Firm disciplinary style that preserve students' dignity
Loves the subject and enjoys the role
accommodates the needs of adult students
To have a non-threatening management style because it is the most preferred by adult students.
To know about interactive pedagogy and have knowledge and mastery of different ways of teaching
Outstanding response Wilfredo.
You have provided a great list of successful traits and working styles. I am interested in what actions you take within your classrooms to ensure you are leading by example for your students and exemplifying the traits you have listed and the working styles you have provided? It is always good practice to invite fellow faculty members into your classroom to provide you with their input and any suggestions they care to provide with respect to your overall effectiveness. Every faculty member is evaluated at some point in their career; the frequency really depends on the institution and the department. You do not have to wait until you are formally evaluated, you can be proactive in many ways including recording your own classroom and self-evaluating your skills, requesting a fellow faculty member to sit in on your class and even requesting such review by your direct supervisor or on of their peers. In my experience, such individuals are eager to provide such assistance and will most likely request that you return the favor.
Thanks for your response and let me know if I can assist you in any way.
James
