As a teacher with almost 20 years experience, I can attest to the fact that time management is a critical consideration. Case studies, expert advisors, and various forms of ice breakers are very effective tools.
I carefully plan out each lecture, paying careful attention to how long each segment should take. After teaching certain classes for extended periods of time, I have extra materials to enhance their learning if I go too fast.
I am in the process of teaching my first class, and one of the strategies I use to ensure that I am keeping pace, is to break up my lecture into segments. It is a 4 hour lecture class, so I try to plan a certain amount of time per segment. That way if I am way ahead or behind schedule, I can change my pace up to get back on track. Or plan a break, or activity to help correct the pace.
I typically try to allow for some discussion in the 50 min. class session timeframe, but typically it does tend to go beyond. In general I look at that time allotment as representative of the general timeframe of learning, so when it comes to discussion after the fact that typically is in addition to. At that point however it's typically the students break that is affected and those that want to stay and ask do, those who do not tend to excuse themselves.
Gordon,
Does the 50 min. time allotment include student discussion, regarding the content? In some cases, students can spend a great deal of time discussing just one slide from the presentation.
Tremayne Simpson
I always have activities planned and discussion time allotted. The activities or discussions are sometimes extra so that they can be used as fillers or omitted depending on whether we run short or long.
We use slide shows so I can tell if I am on time or not by what slide I am on. If I am ahead I find relevant stories from the field to tell. If behind leave a little out
I typically try to ensure I have 50 minutes of PowerPoint presentation, with all the basics covered on the slide. Where time management comes into play is spending more or less time on individual slides, and giving more or less additional information on those slides.
Time management is essential to be a good instructor when prepare your lesson plan you should always incorporate extra activities to ensure you using all you time allotted
Case studies and having people come in that work in the field really helps as well!
I really like the idea of using case studies to spark interest and engage students in an open discussion. These will work great as time fillers when necessary.
Timed presentation with a q and a at the end.
My schedule is set for the whole semester as far as lesson plans are concerned. I also put on my syllabus that the lessons are subject to change. Through my experience, I have told students that if we finish one lesson plan early, we will continue to the next one mentioned on the syllabus. This makes them prepared for every class.
The campus that I am employed at requires roll to be taken within the first 10 minutes of class and placed in a collectible binder on the wall. So, within the first five minutes of class I am taking the roll. Generally, on the first day of class I tell my students that if they are late then there are serious consequences; as a result, I do not have a problem with extreme tardiness.
(I teach at a small technical college)
It is optional on campus for instructors to use a lesson plan or not. I love the idea and use one because my class activities and assignments are broken into sections. On each activity there is a designated time for the entire class session. Having a general idea as to what we will cover is good, but the direction of the class changes based on the interactions and feedback of the students. It is important for the insructors to know the students and manage the class and the learning activities accordingly.
set the pace at 15 minute intervals.
I have found throughout my experience as an instructor to have more than enough planned for the course. It has been more than often my students were smart and quick at picking up the material. I think they appreciate having a lot to learn within the course. It really builds self esteem.
I try to break each activity into 15 minute incraments. this allows me to keep everything moving at a steady pace and it keeps my students focused on a topic for a period of time before they become botred.
I also have used case studies to help fill in times when I seem to have a gap. In fact, I plan on using case studies more routinely throughout my lesson plan. Her students often seem to dread them, by the end of the course, they realize the benefit. Case studies allow students to use the facts and concepts presented in class and solve potential real-world issues.
I break down the material into 30 minute segments with time for discussion. This seems to keep everyone on task and it keeps me on pace.
I have two 1.5 hr blocks per class with a 30 minute break in between. I try to budget ahead of time how much we can/will get through in the first half of class and then in the second, with backup plans for second half if we are running long or short on time. It gets easier the more you have the same students, and even if you always have new students, it definitely gets easier as you teach your material more and more, and really nail down your class-flow more and more.
