Get Your Students Hired
The very first semester I taught went exceptionally well. The second semester I taught was at a completely different university but to a similar group of students as the first (creatives.) The course was also slightly different, but it was one in which I felt more knowledgeable and comfortable with. The second semester class was also half the size of the class from my first experience.
The difference was night and day. Everything that about my second semester teaching seemed to be a challenge! From my ability to articulate the material, to the practical application the students were able to develop. It was an eye (or perhaps, "I") opening experience.
I'm now preparing to teach both courses at the two universities for the second time and I can't wait to apply what I've learned on a technical, personal, and professional level. I'm excited to see what will manifest with the new groups of students and eager to jump into action to solve problems when they arise.
Gloria,
Thank you for sharing your shift in teaching site. This is important for instructors to think about as they prepare their instruction. They need to think about the setting, the students and the content in ways that will support and encourage learning. As you say your field is constantly changing so it is important to stay cutting edge in terms of knowledge and technology.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe that when we become comfortable in teaching in one school or the same particular class over and over we become very comfortable with the subject matter and in some ways our teaching styles tend to lack the glitter that we may have had in the very beginning. Recently I have changed schools and even though I have been teaching for nine years at one school and learning all of the curriculum I have now started teaching at a different school,and on my first day of class I had to set the mood of how I am going to run the class and what expectations that I wanted my students to achieve, yet feel confident in the subject matter, to convey to the students that even though I had been teaching for nine years this curriculum was a change for me but that I was able to adapt. Being in the medical field there is constant change, we need to adapt, present an image of professionalism, confidence in what we do.
Jill,
Thank you for sharing your teaching experiences with us. They certainly were different for sure. Looking at the positive outcome of these experiences as you are doing you did learn a lot about working with different student dynamics as well as content. Your adjustments to these differences I am sure are going to serve you well as you undertake teaching them both. I wish you much success in this endeavor.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.