I currently am an Instructor at a Technical Institute. I feel I am a Guide type instructor, however do feel the challenges of the variety of students taking my courses. They range in age from 17-70. The challenges I face daily reflect basically on the times we live in. Obviously we have all seen the rebelious text messaging, baggy pants, hats on backwards youth which generally are the hardest to influence, but at the same time we are dealing with alot of veterans who have troubles adapting. I personally feel that everyone deserves the best I can give. I emphasize the importance of being professional and having good communication and people skills. I am open and adapt to all learning styles. The first day of the course I try to greet them, walk around and introduce myself and make them feel comfortable within my world. This seems to bring all students closer and allows me to establish protocols and objectives with positive re-enforcement. Is their anything I can do better in these trying times?

I look for ways to turn their desire for negative attention into positive attention.

I enjoyed the Harvard Business School Lectures on engaging students. I like to learn all of my students names, and I usually do a Myers-Briggs Assessment to get to know them better. We read our types aloud and class and discuss how we fit together as a group.

Time management is what you make it. You have to find techniques you are comfortable with or you will not make changes in your life. READ ! Start with "The idiots guide to time mangement". Believe it or not, it's pretty good. Then read "the 7 habits of highly effective people" by steve covey. A classic! If you have time, try meditation. A mantra helps. Good luck!

I do find it very important for faculty to remember student names as quick as possible so the student feel important. A great way to incoporate names into a class discussion is on day one with an icebreaker assignment.

I have found that walking around the classroom during test, quizzes,a and lectures will prevent some of the wondering eyes. I have also found that when placing students in groups you can automatically tell which students are weak and strong in the subject matter, which helps in the event you have to assign seats during test and exams.

do other things, don't dwell on things that aggravate you, I hunt and fish, find these are great stress relievers

When students start discussions about how different instructors teach, I explain that in our field, their will always be various POV. Perspective in neither right or wrong.

Once angry students "explode" in class, the situation needs to be contained immediately. The other students in the room are watching very carefully to see how the situation is going to be resolved.

Its better to take a deep breath, exercise, and meditate than to just fly off the handle.

I try to leave work problems at work and not take them home with me cause it causes stress at home.

It is very important to stay organized!

This helps us to do what is more important than others things

It is interesting to see students of all ages regressing to behaving like middle school students. I find it necessary to remind students to remember what their primary focus of returning to school and to put aside the drama that tends to develop in the classrooms.

Is so important to respect and the tone of the class.

Properly reviewing the class Syllabus is critical. I stress all of the key points and open the discussion in class so that everybody in class is engaged to how they are to be evaluated for the course. The due dates are emphasized and also posted in class in advance to try and eliminate confusion.

I usually try to make a daily task list, as well as a weekly task list. I find this to be a helpful tool so that I am able to do a planner for the week so I know what I need to do by the end of the week. At the end of the week (Friday @ 5:00Pm) those task that were not completed will be my "homework" over the weekend. This gives me the incentive to complete my daily and weekly task list, or my weekend could be consumed by doing things that I should have been able to complete during the week. The kids are in the pool while you are doing your "homework". This really works well for me. Tina

take a few minutes every day to sit down and plan your time for that day or week

do not let the students rush you

Will students test a new instructor more than a veteran instructor?