Traits of a Successful Instructors to me include:
-Having Good Rapport with the Students and Collegues
-Knowledgeable in Course Content /Syllabus
-Fair, Firm, and Consistient in their Classroom Discipline
-An Avid Learner in their ZEAL for EDUCATION and EXCELLENCE for their STUDENTS!!!
The instructor should be prepared, know the subject matter being taught, be flexible and have alternative plans when glitches in overhead projectors or the copier machine arise, pay attention to everything: snacks in the pack, bottles of soft drinks between the desk legs and the book bag, the glow and the gaze of the texter, the Facebook poster, all the little school rules being defied. It goes straight to respect for not only instructors but for the school itself. And the instructor should know the rationale for some of the rules: snacks and drinks fall into keyboards and early on (not so much these days at our school) Facebook posters were swallowing the school's network bandwidth, affecting instructors' presentations as well. Good instructors have a sense of pride in where they are and what they are going to do and a love for not only their craft and area of expertise but for the students themselves. (Ooops. It's late and I'm rambling.)
To be a successful instructor, you need to have a solid background in the field that you are teaching. I have taken a few classes where my instructor didn't have the skills needed to successfully teach the class. For example, I had an instructor for one of my Marketing classes that had a minor in Marketing. His area of emphasis was Finance so I felt I wasn't gaining the best knowledge in the field of Marketing. Another characteristic needed for good classroom management is people skills. If the instructor lacks people skills, then this could cause problems for students. In my opinion, people skills and expert knowledge in the subject are are two of the most important traits to have for successful classroom management.
I think it is important to begin with a new group as a controller to establish respect and rules within the classroom. It is much easier to maintain control when you can relax and let the buddy relationship begin to develop as you get to know the students better in future courses when they are closer to graduation and soon to be a peer in the field, than to start out relaxed and try to regain control of a group that has not learned to respect you or the classroom expectations.
Gary, why do you feel you struggle? Fun is not always the magic formula but engaging tends to be the more common thread. Engaging could be using a fun assignment but can also be getting your students to think critically or creatively. The more your students feel they are involved and embedded the more they will get out of the experience. What research have you conducted on student engagement and impact on teaching and learning? As an instructor we all must continually be learning new techniques and finding different ways to engage our students.
James Jackson
William, the same is true in most business settings. Fair but firm earns more respect than being feared or management by punishment. Think back to your best experiences with leaders you were exposed and what traits did you admire most? These tend to be the same for the best instructors.
James Jackson
joseph, quiet time can be very powerful. Peer pressure is equally as powerful. Great post.
James Jackson
Art, outstanding post and students will pick up on the smallest of factors at times. Students are exposed to several instructors over the life of their education so they become very tuned in with regard to those that care and those that are just working to earn their paycheck. I totally agree that for any instructor that is not totally passionate about their subject and their students should consider a career change.
James Jackson
Obviously, all Instructors have to be completely competent in the subject matter.
Then, we must be enthusiastic about our material, the school, the students and the way we interact with the class. Students will recognize our strengths and our weaknesses. If we look like we don’t care, the students will be quick to pick this up. Our task should be to get the class excited about our material. If we are not excited, how do we expect to get our students excited?
If we really love our subject matter, and the task of teaching, and people in general, it will show up in the way we teach, and the way we interact with the class as a whole, and the way we interact with each and every student.
If we ever do find we don’t have this love, then we should look for another job.
I will usually stop and wait for them to stop talking. Usually their peers will tell them to be quiet. I just inform them that I will not talk over them. I just inform the ones that are talking that I am not the one that needs to pass the exam.
The successful classroom instructor is often said to be firm but friendly in their approach to classroom management. In other words a rapport needs to be developed with students but if this gets out of control students will lose respect. However if too much discipline and control is used the students will resent this and tend to rebel like angry children. Striking a balance between the two will help your classroom be an enjoyable place to be but will also help facilitate learning.
Successful instructors are able to not only teach but also make learning fun for all types of learners... something I struggle with with every class...
steven, well stated. How do you continually ensure you are meeting all of these great traits? Thanks for anything you can share.
James Jackson
Discipline, a good understanding of the lesson goals, an environment where students are comfortable, but are not lax in their attitude or behavior. Instructors need to be SME's but also not just instructors but facilitators.
I think that being on time as an instructor, be able to see all the students at the beginning and the end of class, communicate with students effectively and provide encouraging or corrective feedback to all students.
Susan, great concept. Learning can and should be fun. There are times that will be more intense than others but the passion of the subject matter should always play a key role.
James Jackson
Dave, good post and preparation is critical not just a recommendation. We ask our students to come to class prepared so why would we expect anything less from ourselves? We are to set the example and to lead by example so arriving to class on time and fully prepared is key to what our students take away from their time with us.
James Jackson
Evelyn, great post. Also true is the converse of your statement in that students can easily spot the instructor that is not passionate about their subject matter and such situations can be very demotivating to students. If an instructor lacks the passion for their students and their subject matter, they should find a new profession.
James Jackson
Sandra, treating each student as an individual is a complicated concept for some but so true. For some students the only positive role model in their life may be their instructor. For this reason along instructors should get to know their students and work to understand what positive motivators influence them and their desire to be successful.
James Jackson
Some of the many traits and characteristics important for good classroom management are being patient, kind, positive, respectful, caring, compassionate, sensitive, enthusiast, creative and organized. I believe instructors should hold high expectations for all students; believing in them and celebrating each student’s successes. Instructors should bring themselves to the classroom with an attitude of confidence and a passion for learning new things. They should recognize that each student is unique and has individual needs and work toward helping all students reach their fullest potential in learning.
