Instructors need to know how to manage the flow of instruction in their classes while engaging all of their students in the learning process. Managing student behavior is a necessity if courses are going to achieve the stated goals and objectives. This group is for educators who aspire to discuss and master the competencies necessary for exemplary performance and top customer service in a dynamic, rapidly changing education landscape. Group members share best practices, ideas, thoughts, reflections, and resources to help colleagues across the globe improve performance.
As a new instructor just hitting my first-year mark, I very much agree with all the information in this block of instructions. I was definitely concerned about being seen as incompetent, even though I'm fresh out of the field with up-to-date knowledge and a good skill set. Excepting the fact that the first few lectures or demonstrations may be a little rough helped a lot. You have to rip that band-aid.
It's important to address stress as soon as possible rather than burying it. There are many resources for students at school, but teachers have to find ways to handle stress. Often, this means exercising, talking to friends or a therapist, and focusing on being present.
Focusing on the present and gratitude helps everyone in the classroom. Leading a breathing exercise with students and avoiding multitasking are techniques I can use. I'm learning to avoid the addiction to multitasking.
Focusing on the positive, big or small, every day helps me. Students need the same in the classroom. A smile, kind words, acknowledgment of an accomplishment, or positive message can make a difference.
Exercising, talking to friends, and eating well are all ways to reduce stress. Students are under a lot of stress, and it helps to provide a safe environment and encourage better sleep habits.
Do your due diligence and create an environment that doesn't allow cheating. Make it known that you will not tolerate any type of cheating. That way, when you have proper evidence of cheating, you can handle it quickly and accurately.
Many young adult students get very offended when they are "called out." It is a quick way to deal with the situation right then and there. However, this may create unnecessary resentment. It would be better to take the student aside and have them explain what can be done to improve the situation or instruction to keep their attention.
Discussing and running through a good course/syllabus break down helps alot!
It's important to have clear expectations for the student.
I had wondered what would be the best way of dealing with students who constantly have excuses for incomplete assignments etc and how to determine if they are telling the truth or fabricating excuses. I appreciated the point that it is better to give the benefit of the doubt because it would be worse to deny accomidation to a student in genuine need then to allow accomidation to a student that is making excuses. That kind of behaviour will not serve them in the work place and will eventually cause them issues that they will need to be accountable for.
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Career Ed Lounge is embedded in over eighty professional development portals serving the career and technical education community. Performance Groups in the Lounge are integrated with related learning opportunities offered on these portals. With a few exceptions, Performance Groups are also publicly available to any member of the Lounge to maximize peer-to-peer learning and performance outcomes.
