Melissa,
This is a great sentiment and principle to guide our professional lives.
Barry Westling
Absolutely agree. When a new teacher is willing to learn and try new things that teacher will suceed...
This is one of my favorite things to remind myself. Not to long ago I was a back in school completing my BBA. I remember in one of my classes in which my teacher was a PH.D. in there field, spoke down to me like I knew nothing and why am I not smart like her (hated her). This was a good example of what not to do. Later I took another class again another teacher with a PH.D. with multiple international awards under his belt. The difference was when I had a question he spoke to me at me level, he would ask the questions that lead to my difficulty. This has had a everlasting impression on me. This is just one example.
As an instructor in a couple of disciplines, there is great importance to understand the student is not you. They are their to learn from you. Just because we were taught one way we now do not teach the same way. Just because we learned on way our student(s) do not learn the same way. Placing the learning needs of the student first will (should) automatically kick in the instructional leader role to serve the student best.
I think it is important to understand who I am in reference to my strengths and weaknesses so I can use my strengths to teach my students. I think it is also important to work on my weaknesses to develop them into strengths. Understanding who I am and what works for me as an instructor will be the best way for me to convey the information to my students whether it is using power point, handouts, or other examples. The strengths of my personality will make the classroom a more effective learning environment.
Pietro,
Yes, we can have an impact on student lives and their academic successes. I think if we are comfortable with ourselves, approachable, patient, willing to listen, have a good sense of humor, and competent with our subject matter, students will learn to trust and respect their instructor, especially if they feel they're honest and genuine.
Barry Westling
Jacqueline,
We all have strengths and it's natural to play into them. Iven with areas that may need a lttle work, I thin k if we are genuine and honest, students will appreciate that we are the real thing, only there to help the students succeed.
Barry Westling
It is important to understand myself as an instructor so I can continue to evolve, change and adapt to the student ever changing needs.
Anthony,
I think when we reach a point where we can be honest and open, humble and kind, along with competence in our subject matter, we will be at a point where we can relate to the variety of individuals and situations often encountered in the classroom, especially in career schools.
Barry Westling
It is important to know how you come across to student and your communication style. Students may interpret your meanings in another way in which it was given. Expectations, personality and dislikes/dislikes all come out the more time you spend instructing a group.
Brandon,
Very true. I think if we are sincere and approachable, most students will warm up to their instructor quite readily. Being willing to listen, having patience, a good sense of humor, and a general care for the students success can only add to the positive merits an instructor exhibits as well.
Barry Westling
It is important to know yourself in order to know your students and have an understanding of different learning styles of students to be able effectively instruct them on material, especially if it is challenging and they have not seen it before. If you know yourself enough, you will know your pitfalls which may help in helping your students with their pitfalls. And you can also work to correct your own pitfalls so it doesn't happen in class.
Erica,
Good example. I'm a little hard of hearing. Knowing this, I always look to how I can best position myself to field questions. I also tell students they need to keep the class quiet from extraneous noises as it interferes with my clearly hearing their questions. Most students are respectful of that (but do need reminding. So, although there is some mild impairment, by understanding and preparing to adapt, this helps create better class discussions.
Barry Westling
If you have a good sense of yourself and how you may be perceived by students and others, you will have the means to make adjustments and modifications as needed for your particular audience. (In this case, your students).
Wendy,
Good point. Confidence brings a comfortableness and smoothness to our delivery and presentation.
Barry Westling
Understanding ourself as an instructional leader enables you to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses and unique qualities that you bring to the classroom.
Brenda,
Very true. We become most effective when we are aware of what attributes we possess that can be utilized to reach our students on all levels; professional, interpersonal, advisory, instructional. Students admire instructors who are genuine versions of themselves.
Barry Westling
I feel it is very important to be aware of your personal strengths and weaknesses as an instructor. In order to reach and impart knowledge of the subject matter being taught, an instructor has to be aware of their audience and the different learning styles required to reach everyone at some level. This may require an instructor to incorrporate delivery styles that may seem uncomfortable for them. This is where it is the instructors responsibility to step out of their comfort zone and stretch themselves to do things they might not usually do.
This is positvie in that the instructor will grow in his/her own abilites to be creative and flexible and the more you incorporate new approaches to teaching the sooner the instuctor will gain new skills and confidence to continue to utilize thest new techniques.
I personally need to improve on being more visual when I lecture by including interactive writing on the board and more PowerPoint presentations. This is a goal of mine. I am not intimidated in the least to incorporate more of this, but I do need to get more instuction from my colleagues to become familiar witht the use of the hardware necessary to accomplish this goal. I just sent an email out this morining requesting additional training in this area.
Learning new skills also gives an instructor a sense of accomplishment, which only fosters more confidence and joy that you are making an effort to reach out to students that require more visual and tactile learning to process information. I teach course such as Training and Development, Labor Relations and Strategic Staffing; lots of reading and lecture, which gets boring quick. It's not like teaching a plumbing glass where you can use lots of props and hands on materials. I have to find ways to make delivery of course content that facilitates interactive exchange with the students.
Laura,
Selfawreness, understanding ones positive attributes, and a knowledge of where improvement is needed describes instructors who want and desire to do their best in the classroom and for their students. Keys to success here lie in creativity, variety, and a willigness to stretch oneself to make classes interesting.
Barry Westling
My background is not in a classroom setting so while I may be a subject matter expert I am certainly NOT an instructional delivery expert (yet). I still have much to learn about learning and teaching styles. If I didnt understand that, I would have no reason to grow and learn in order to become that IDE. Instructional delivery is the gateway to realizing/understanding subject matter.
Amy,
Great self assessment. I think youy've got a good perspective in that instructors who are willing to improve, grow, and become better at what they do will have successful classes, and students will benefit as the result.
Barry Westling
