Lots of good and useful information for new instructors. Remembering names of all students specially when you have 70 students every 12 weeks has been my biggest challenge. With the consent of the students, I take pictures of the two sides of the classroom and write the names of students as per their seats and then put their faces to their names and it helps me to remember their names quicker than anything else.
When teaching adults, class management means that you are prepared, organized, and dedicated to sharing your expertise and knowledge of the field.
be confident and organized with your teaching skills
I think remembering student names is important. Providing name tents for the first couple of weeks can help us to remember are students names.
This class has taught me many ways to succeed in teaching, but the most important fact that has impacted my learning and has influenced my enjoyment using this platform, is that I am not alone. Many of the fears I have and have had are not unrealistic, and are common fears that I have learned, many teachers have.
I worry all the time about my first impression towards people. Sometimes without saying a word and dressing in a uniform, people will still form an impression that may be based on stereotypes which I dont have any control over. There are other actions that I can model which will create an overall impression of professionalism and competency.
- Being on time - all the time
- Keeping your promises
- Providing students with the tools they need to succeed.
- etc.
Learned to avoid instructor image mistake, dress professionally,to appear to the stiudents as someone who cares about them amd their success.Learning the names of the students make them feel inclusive.Another great lesson learned is to always go through course work and put in the time, not to be anxious on class day.
Always be prepared to not be worrying about what ifs.
Be willing to make mistakes and learn from them.
It's great advice to focus on the long term job of doing a job well from the start and taking your time, rather than rushing to do that right away. It's better to do the job right but poorly, instead of doing a job poorly and wrong and then landing on doing a job right but poorly because you never set out to do it right from the start.
Comment on Shelley Freshman's post: I love this idea. I'm going to borrow it. Thank you.
I like the explanation of using humor to address your mistakes as an instructor.
Preparation before class is the best way to avoid some of the jitters before class. I am the last person who wants to stand in front of a class room full of students I don't know personally. I look at it as the first day of meeting a class room full of students wanting to learn how to work in an industry I happen to love. And so, I cant wait to meet and get to know them.
That most fear obstacles.
Have a plan, be prepared and be able to adapt to fix mistakes.
Instructor mistakes will happen, but it does not have to be the final resting place. Using humor to identify a mistake you made, allow the students to understand you are human and relieve the idea that they must be perfect to succeed. One of the biggest benefits to avoiding mistakes are being prepared and organized.
Knowing that even experienced instructors will make mistakes. Taking note of mistakes as they occur and how they were corrected and reviewing these mistakes to learn from them and improve.
This module is very beneficial for the new instructor. They need to be prepared and have confidence in themselves
Mistakes happen as we are humans.
Reflecting on the relationship between external organization and perceived competence in the classroom reveals some important truths. It’s striking to recognize that students often equate a disorganized environment—such as a cluttered desk or chaotic work area—with a lack of mental clarity and structure. This perception can significantly impact their confidence in an instructor, regardless of the instructor's expertise or knowledge in their field.
When students observe disarray, it can lead them to question not just the instructor’s organizational skills, but also their ability to effectively teach and guide them. Even the most knowledgeable educators can unintentionally undermine their credibility if they don’t present themselves and their materials in a well-structured manner. This insight emphasizes the importance of maintaining an organized teaching space, as it not only reflects professionalism but also reassures students of the instructor's capability. In essence, cultivating an orderly environment is crucial not just for personal efficiency, but for fostering trust and confidence among students.
I like to pull techniques and advice from other instructors. I have had a class of instructors teaching others methods of teaching. That class showed me different class presence and different ways to connect with students.
