Hi Cynthia:
Good self image does convey confidence. Students are astute to pick up on subtle deficiencies especially if the instructor is timid, lacks confidence, has a poor self image, or is not prepared for class. We need to be the antithesis to these undesirable aspects of character.
Regards, Barry
By "knowing thyself" self as they say, I am better able to adjust my delivery style or strategy to the needs of students. In addition, I can identify some things I may need to change within myself.
It is important to understand myself because my personality plays a major role in my teaching style. I am by nature a extrovert, but I always need to keep that in check and allow the special moments of silence when I may have talked too fast and not allowed time for reflection.
Hi Ariana:
Great self reflection and observation about yourself. I like that your recognition also has a solution accompanying it! A problem without a solution remains a problem.
Regards, Barry
I think it's important that I understand my strengths and weaknesses in order to be able to provide the best instruction possible. For example, sometimes my lectures can get long and although I am enthusiastic because I love what I teach, after an hour students start losing focus. I try to incorporate class activities in between in order to keep my students interested.
Hi Anna:
Yeah...that darn'd ego thing. You're right. I can say some of the strongest, smartest and most helpful teachers I've had were the most humble individuals. How amazing that they could put themselves aside and center their focus on the students. Awesome. Good comment, too.
Regards, Barry
Hi Lori:
I think a key statement you made is "willingness to change". We all have great attributes and we all have areas that could probably be improved upon. That willingness to recognize the need, then the conviction to be open to changing (for the benefit of students) is quite exemplary and all receive the merits of this action.
Regards, Barry
Berry,
Of course, and I think that worst enemy to any teacher, instructor, trainer, and educator in general, is ego. We all learn constantly, whether we want to or not, and entering the classroom thinking that you’re the only one doing teaching is wrong approach to teaching from the start.
That’s why knowing myself as a person and as a teacher is so crucial. Tackle your ego, and leave it at the door of the room full of people waiting to see a human that happens to know a lot about something they want to learn.
Nobody wants to feel like they have nothing to offer or teach somebody, especially if we’re talking about learning adults.
Hi Anna:
I think better instructors share some of these traits: confidence, competence, experience, educated, credentialed, helpful, creative, and honest. Great traits for teachers, and usually possessed by all to some degree. So we come into the classroom striving to be our best, but we bring with us much of what we already have.
Knowing that, and believing in ourselves creates great classroom dynamics and definitely facilitates better learning outcomes for the students.
Regards, Barry
How can I get to know my students if I don’t know myself? How can a person know anybody if they don’t know the closest person to them= themselves.
It is never more important to know yourself than in the classroom full of people that have to see you as authority, subject matter expert and human above all. Knowing yourself helps you discover your strengths and your weaknesses as a teacher and as a leader, so you can be confidante and self-assured that your students are getting the best of you.
Hi Michael:
I am more comforatable both about myself and the lesson when I feel good about who I am and what I can produce in and from students.
Regards, Barry
Understanding who you are is part and parcel to being an effective instructor. Teaching within your area of expertise is extremely helpful. Spending years in a discipline that you're teaching allows you to teach that discipline with much more authority. Because you've "done it" as a professional, teaching it places you in a unique position. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses allow you to build on your strengths and develop strategies to improve in areas where you may be a little weaker.
My instructional personality sets the tone for student engagement & effective learning in the classroom. With continual self-assessment and willingness to change, I am more able to adapt/change my delivery methods to those methods required by my student audience at that particular time. The overall goal being to facilitate a more positive learning environment that feels "unique" to each student. I try to "personalize" lectures as much as possible to enable student "ownership" of material being presented.
It's important that I know my strengths and weaknesses as an instructor. For example I know that I can be easily distracted by topics that are not relevant to the classroom material. Sometimes the discussions are a nice short break for the students, but there have been occasions where I regret the tangent the discussion took, and the time wasted off topic. Being aware of this weakness helps me keep it in check, and minimize or eliminate it completely.
Hi James:
Great self analysis! We are more effective when we understand where our strengths and uniquenes's stand out and can be incorporated into our teachers personality. And the closer that personality is to our real selves, honest, creative, and sincere instructional sessions will be the result.
Regards, Barry
To best assess what I may do correctly for creating the best learning environment for the students; how I can address shortcomings and imperfections to enhance my skills and methods; and how I can develop a healthy self-concept necessary to being an empathic, patient, and effective instructor.
I believe if you do not have a good grasp of who you are, your strong suits and weak areas you will not be able to be as effective as you might like. I always think to myself how would I recieve me and the information I am bringing to class if I were a student. I have had great sucess looking at things as my students might.
I have to understand what type of instructor I am in order to tailor my material and delivery to that style, especially early in the term. I work on improving my weaker areas, however playing to my strengths will keep the students engaged. As I continue to improve, I'll have more strengths to play to and less weak areas.
It is through knowing one's self that we can find out what our true strength and weaknesses are. Knowing our weaknesses help us as week seek self improvement. As we work on our deficiencies, we can also take advantage of our strengths. This can potentially avoid embarrassing moments as well as any loss of credibility.
By understanding yourself you can realize your capabilities, strengths and weaknesses. Knowing this you can effect changes/modifications in the way you instruct and approach students, as well as in how you manage your course materials and presentation. Instructors in the Career School should always strive to the best performance of their duties so that we can look at graduates and hopefully see them successfully employed in the field for which we have prepared them.
