I've learned I should always be looking for ways and techniques to enhance or improve my teaching methods, to engage the students.
Engaging the students in a career focused agenda.
Setting the example is so important when instructing students.
I really enjoyed learning about the three roles: model, manager, and motivator. It is difficult to not cross the line of students feeling like you are their pal when you have such a small program like mine. I learned a lot about my role as their instructor and guidelines to follow.
Prepare and be professional. The students are learning from the instructor and will model the instructor's behaviors.
Professionalism is very important in the classroom setting, especially when we are building and empowering new professionals.
Instructor roles include being a model, manager, and motivator. Also, don't come across as if I am the smartest in the classroom, because someone else may be more knowledgeable.
To stay up-tp-date on teaching strategies and to lead by example.
As a 20 year army veteran and instructor/evaluator, these are many of the key tenets taught to Non-commissioned Officers in professional development courses. My biggest take away is to never assume that you are the smartest one in the classroom.
"Do not try to show your students how competent you are." There will be somewhere there that is smarter. When you do you lose them.
To make sure as an educator that you establish and maintain boundaries which can help prevent role confusion, build trust, promote professionalism, and encourage student independence.
As an instructor, maintain boundaries so that they know you're a friendly ear, but not a pal.
Learn and be pro-active, understand the students and the environment we are in. Understand and have a personal development plan so that you are always learning. Education is student learning vs just plain teaching. Showing professionalism through and through to set an example.
I learned how important it is to be a cheerleader but be wary of becoming a babysitter. It is easy to slip into the role of a babysitter, especially when we care about our students and their success. Setting clear boundaries is beneficial to the teacher and student.
Comment on Michelle DeJong's post: As an instructor it is always important to remember that our students are watching us closely and learning from us. We want and need to project a professional image in all of our interactions with the students so that they will learn how to present themselves to others, as a professional.
The modeling was interesting to consider.
I learned that teaching methods should changed based on the specific topics being taught.
I think what I learned that will forever stick with me from this unit was a quote from the Harvard instructor, stating "be the mad scientist for your subject." The more excited I am about modeling my subject area, the more motivated and easier to manage my classes will become.
In addition to the reminder of the necessity for experienced instructors to refine the concept of Model, Manager and Motivator, the "5 C's" were relevant and important points of discussions presented in the module.
