Anthony,
good point, showing that you care for their training is a different spin but a good one.
Philip Campbell
One of the most important qualities for a successful instructor is to show students you care about the outcome of their training. They will respect you and as long as you are honest and respectful to them they will be workable and manageable.
Karla,
These strategies are important and sometimes hard to identify by yourself. Feedback from others helps.
Philip Campbell
Abundio,
Support is what makes students feel like they can be successful in classes as well.
Philip Campbell
Being an effective instructor is being able to manage, teach and treat others with respect while working under stressful situations. Being able to solve problems quickly whenever they arise without judging or criticizing others. Give constructive criticism to motivate the student to do better or change his/her approach.
In my opinion, the most important as instructor is show that we as care for student first, then give 100% support, encouragement, as well as a good listener. We should listen to the student so we can easily adapt to them and know what type of approach we can used or techniques, soft skills or hard skill.
I agree with Julie, From my experiences in the classes I teach, Caring about the material but also the students is key. When they feel that you are putting yourself out there for (them) they in return will try harder and seem to accept/learn more. I have even at times gone after the harder to reach students speaking one /on one
Steven,
WHY is an important question and one that needs to be addressed.
Philip Campbell
the ability to communicate WHY. This is often forgotten in the classroom setting when there is so much focus on HOW. Being able to explain why usually gets more involvement from students. it gets the buy-in and adds value to what might be seen as a mundane task
Steven,
Personalities are hard to deal with sometimes. Even when it is your own and you may be conflicted on how you should be in certain situations.
Philip Campbell
Warren,
If we all just listened a little.
Philip Campbell
I feel that the success of an instructor’s soft skills in a classroom atmosphere is sometimes dependent on the personality of the instructor. Many students form an opinion within a few minutes of meeting the instructor for the first time, whether they will be able to “connect†or not. Once the wall goes up, less learning will happen. I have seen many instructors with excellent technical skills fail miserably because they didn’t have people skills, and did nothing to try and adapt or correct themselves.
I agree, I find that just listening to them often gets them to work a little harder. Usualy students will just fade into the back ground if they are having difficulty in class but if you talk to them and listen to what is happening in their lives they "feel" like you care and will make more of an effort. Sometimes students may be overwhelmed with personal issues and just need some one to listen.
after the team has finished the module or lab asignment,we talk about what it was that the lab was focused on or what did they learn from the lab,too many times the students just work to finish the lab and pay no attention to what they are supose to have learned,then as a team we talk of other ways or testing to come up with the same results.show them that the directions are not always the only way to get to the same answer.this lets the team work together with different ideas.
Enthusiasm is contagious,but students also have to see the material as important to them. What benefit are they going to see now or later from what I am telling them today.
I would agree with Julie, caring is a key component of teaching I would also say that integrity plays a big part as well. Students can see right though some one that does not honestly play a real role in their education.
Clearly it has to start with caring. But that is not enough. You can have all the care in the world but if you cant connect with your students you chances of success drop dramatically. Once they understand that you care and have taken a personal stake in their success then you can more effectively coach them. The three C's........Caring, Connecting and Coaching. Building soft skill "strength" can help develop these traits.
I find that being kind to your students and coworkers goes a lot further toward gaining respect and cooperation than being the “tough guyâ€. Kindness (not weakness) shows that you care about others feelings and wellbeing. When students know you care about them they are in a much better frame of mind to learn. Ralph Waldo Emerson said “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too lateâ€.
I think the most important quality to set instructors apart from others is integrity. The instructor needs to be honest and fair to all students despite their beliefs and opinions. The instructor needs to remember that these students also have feelings and have something to contribute.
Kevin,
Great point. Students do not want to feel like they cannot participate.
Philip Campbell
