Taking Notes
The information provided so far in this section has been useful, especially the breakdown of instructor types. The suggestion and I liked the most and plan on using was writing down personal classroom experience after each class. I believe this method will create a better learning environment for my students by allowing me to revisit past lesson plans and adapt them to the current student body or just make a lecture flow better
Michael,
Sometimes reflection provides helpful insight about the class or sometimes about ourselves. Either outcome ultimately helps make us better instructors.
Barry Westling
As a new teacher I am open to all advice. One thing I learned that I plan to implement is to make notes after each class. A teacher suggested making the notes on your lesson plan after class as to what worked and what you would change.
Gina,
This sounds like good advice. A more thorough method is a teaching journal. But notes in the margins of lecture notes, comments in the lesson plan, or post-it notes stuck alongside daily objectives are great to help remind instructors later on about thoughts that occur "in the moment".
Barry Westling
I agree with taking notes based on classroom experience for the reasons suggested. It can be useful especially when adapting to new students, it helps to have a variety of ideas that worked and didn't work.
Tina,
Rarely is one class exactly the same as another, so it is helpful to reflect on different instructional strategies that have been successful in the past, but not necessarily used every class. As we move on, our "bag of tricks" enlarges, and our ability to customize our class activities is enhanced.
Barry Westling
Gina,
You will enjoy looking back on your notes and seeing how you grow as an instructor as well. When I first started I took notes and after reviewing them saw that some of the things that kept me wound up, I outgrew. I also have used my notes to coach new instructors in my department now that I have grown in to the Program director role. I have also referenced my notes to help me remember a particular student for evidence for a letter of reference. You may find your notes to be very valuable.
They say the best way to learn is to teach, well no better way to learn about your teaching style then taking notes and reflecting back to them later. Thanks for the tip.
Joshua,
Yep -- we really do learn by going out on a limb and teaching. The same is true for students, in their efforts to study, they ought to include some time to "teach" to their classmates, and they'll likely find out where they know the material, and where work still needs to be done.
Barry Westling
I note the learning style of each student on my seating chart so when I am asked for individual assistance, I can tailor that to the student.
