It makes you excited about what you are teaching. If you are always looking for something new to learn, or a different angle from which to see something - it demonstrates to your students that they never know everything.
Having the attitude that you can learn from your students models to them that when they graduate, they should seek to be a lifelong learner. Thanks for sharing!
Having taught in a variety of settings, modes, and with a wide variety of people I know the toughest crowd is the learner who "has to be there" (i.e. mandatory training for county job). The most engaged learner will be the student who has made an ACTIVE decision of "this is what I want do, and I will do it step by step" and is paying for it.
Students can become overwhelmed by the 90 credits of classes so I remind them to break it down. Same thing for the Medical Terminology class, building one brick at a time. Encouraging them along, having them encourage each other! Of course making it fun...if you can get each learner to laugh or smile during the class they will usually remember the concept covered. I have also used the technique of "tieing" concepts to their peers in class saying "remember when Erika said" or remember the example Phil gave". When that question or word appears on the quiz or in real life they can connect to Erika and help the word or answer appear.
Using personal examples yourself and of the students is a way to get buy in and show relevance. It is obvious you are an instructor who really cares, and that shows through to students. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I would like to be a learner in classes such as mine because I know the material, show excitement for the subject, and am fair to all students.
Everyone wants a teacher who has your qualities. If you continue to try to improve your teaching skills, they will watch you grow, too, just as they are. Good luck in all you do!
I am always looking for new ways to approach a topic. My classes aren't usually the same term after term. The same material but a different method or group of activities.
Gail, teaching while using a variety of methods ensures you will appeal to many different learning styles. Seeking new ways to teach also help you to become a better teacher.
I give everything I have to my students all day long. I give them unique stories or words to remember new terminology, I explain things with examples until they "get it", not just memorize it. I don't allow negativity from even themselves. I stress to them the importance of why they are here. To learn the information they need to have the career they want, even if they mess up when they answer a question on a test, so what..what's important is that they know it.
I like you approach to teaching, it is important for the students to be the center of attention in class, not the teacher. Helping them to get to knowing is the ultimate goal.
My classes are enthusiastic and engaging. During my lectures, I often tell real-situations or sometimes I have students who can share stories as well. This gives students an opportunity to become more engaged and often talk about how they would handle the situation by using the methods or tools that had learned. I give my students handouts that may go more in detail of what they have learned or as a additional resource, which the students enjoy. I do role-playing, which the students interact as to what was done correctly or incorrectly. Toward the end of a medical terminology course I have shown a medical show/movie to see how many medical terms are being used and if they know the meanings of the word. I have medical term games that are played, i.e. hangman,jeopardy, etc.
Because I think to keep things interesting you need to have an open mind and look at your audience (students), and go with the flow of the energy in the room. You must create your own positive influence by engaging your learners in activities and interactive ideas that will help them help each other and make them feel good about the decisions they have chosen.
I agree. And also believe that being able to communicate to all students at an individual level, and sharing a little sense of humor and humility, helps in the rapport with the comfort level of the class and outcome of their contributiion to learning.
You can see the difference in the learner attitude hen that happens.
I'm on board with this 100% not all teachers know this going in, but learn it through experience.
Great idea, Jacqueline. Whihc TV show do you use...Gray's anatomy or something else?
Honestly I don't know. If it was in one of the classes where we do a lot of hands on activities, such as Invasive Procedures, than I would say yes. If it was Anatomy or Terminology I would have to say no because I'm not very crafty at making up activities to break up lecture. I'm trying to do better, especially since there is another instructor here that has a lot of good activities that she does but I would like to have other ideas to keep in a folder so I can grab them as I can.
Hopefully you gain some ideas from this course you can try out in class. With anatomy and terminology being so dry, activities can really add life to class. Good luck in trying one or two new ideas.
I try to us fun,and creative ways to teach various subjects. First reasoning is for different student learning fundamentals and the second would be to make attending school exciting and something new,my goal is to make the student feel if there not attending they defintely would miss a treat.
Creating anticipation in students is a great strategy. Keep up the good work.
