Making a positive first impression with students on the first day of class is important. Having a list of things to get done in preparing for the class will help to be effective and efficient in the efforts of completing daily activities. The students will appreciate the value of the learning experience when the instructor discusses the importance of the course content as it relates to their future careers. At the end of the first class, students need to feel comfortable about their ability to succeed in the course and about continued progress toward their career goals.

In the Planning and Preparation module, I learned that the instructional component includes the course curriculum, a course outline, goals, and objectives. Learning activities such as labs ought to be well prepared in advance and described in a well-developed syllabus, the operating manual of the course. The syllabus should answer many students' questions by helping them understand the expectations and outcome clearly. The teaching environment sets the tone for how students perceive me as the instructor and the course. Having a checklist helps the instructor feel comfortable that he is covering all the critical items as intended. I will make… >>>

The "Developing as an Instructor" module taught me the important steps to take to become competent in the areas where I feel weaknesses in order to improve my professional skills as a faculty member. A personal professional development plan should include specific courses to be taken and a timeline for accomplishments.