I often have to reiterate to students that he or she must act and dress professinally. One of the biggest concerns are why do we have to dress, when other who work here do not dress professionally. I then explain to them, that I am your instructor and I would for you to follow my dress pattern. Also these people already have the job, which to not make them right, but focus on your professionalism because you are trying to be a potential candidate.
I have to agree. Text message has really hurt their English. I often find that this generation will accidently write in a text or slang form on a paper. Also the professional attire can be challenging. I often have to inform students that their uniform must also look professional before an employer will take you seriously.
We must read and adapt quickly when teaching a class that only last three weeks.
Barry,
clearly this is a challenging situation. I think you are already doing what I would suggest & that is using your better students to help you with the others. Hopefully this can help you push through.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I work for one of the poorest colleges in my home state. We service the five poorest counties here, and it is amazing that I have illiterate students who were just passed-on to their age group, students with a 16 to a 28 on their ACT, and students who have audiographic and idetic memories.
The challenge in my classes is to give the students who need extra help, tutoring and direct instruction what they need... while having activities to keep the more experienced and andvanced students busy.
I've almost got it sorted out which students function best as tutors, as my assistants, as team leaders and as what I refer to "ranglers" that keep people on the right topic... And I'm closing in on midterms.
Overall my students are faring well with their papers and projects, but I'm afraid that the stamina required for such big classes in a vocational setting is just not in me.
Suggestions?
WILLIAM,
this is so true. I think some of this really begins with us as the instructors. If we don't dress & act professionally in the classrooms we really can't expect them to learn any better.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I tend to approach in "neutral" and very shortly class members will come forward with their individual style. These students are easy to identify and coordinate with a style of teaching or even an introduction to dicipline. The students to watch are the quiet learners that are less apt to voice their preferences, don't let them get displaced by the more vocal class members. Carefully seek them out with gradual involvement in the subject matter being careful not to embarass them with spot questions. It is rewarding to see them become more active in the classroom activities as well as socially.
teaching students to act and dress in a professional manner is one of the biggest challenges I must deal with as I teach the gen y students i my class.
I am finding that each year that I teach I stay motivated to learn more about how best to facilitate learning. The students grow more diverse by the year and I stay excited about teaching by assessing how my teaching can change to adapt to varied learners. I am fortunate in that I teach a combination lecture and lab course where I can integrate many opportunities for hands-on exercises. I know I am a very visual learner so I have started to use prezi.com to create presentations that can be more spontaneous then power points.
AS with my family adults, young adults,middle schoolers & elementery school. I try to use different styles in the class room because we may have students from 18 yrs to 60 yrs. old so I have to use different styles to keep everyone on target.
Even teaching the same course repetitively is different every time, isn't it? The first couple of class sessions you have to 'read' the class to really do the best possible job.
ROB,
it really is & one of the exciting elements of teaching. It's a good reminder that we cannot approach every class the same.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
