Kelly Velesaris

A good teacher knows the content, a great teacher knows the students. Students need motivated and it is important for the teacher to know what motivates the students. Positive feedback, encouragement, praise and establishing a rapport with the students will motivate them to do better; to do more. 

Keeping students focused and engaged is one thing; recognizing when we (the instructors) are losing their attention is another. I believe that storytelling can be useful in several ways. Creative storytelling can peak interest, allow for student input/feedback/participation as well as provide a way to teach the students from an experience. I like the idea of handing out 3x5 notecards to allow all students to participate in class discussions. Not everyone is comfortable with talking in front of a roomful of peers, but they may have wonderful ideas/input. This allows all students the opportunity to get their thoughts/input/feedback made known.

Make learning fun! Even if we are teaching adults, it is ok to reward adults and recognize their hard work. Everyone wants to be acknowledged when they accomplish something; adult learners are no different. For example, I love the idea of bringing in a treat (cupcakes or pizza) after the class finishes a huge project. It is imperative that the instructor be excited about the subject they teaching! We are a product of our environment. If I am not excited and engaging about teaching, I should not expect my students to be excited or engaged in learning.

It is important to know your students. Who are they? Why are they here? Where did they come from? Where do they want to be? Knowing a little something about each student will allow the instructor to offer the support they need in order to be successful. An adult learner may have a lot to offer during class discussions due to their life experiences; younger learners may learn from these real life examples.

So many teaching methods! Great opportunity for the lecturer to incorporate different techniques to accommodate the different learning styles of the students! It is important to remember that most adults can only recall 5-7 steps; do not overwhelm the students with a demonstration that contains 15 steps. Also, keep lecture points brief. The average adult has the attention span of less than 18 minutes.

It is imperative to know your students names. It shows them that you care. Tell the students a little about yourself; it shows them that you are human. I love the idea of small groups. It creates a temporary bond amongst students. 

Need to learn how to write goals, objectives and a syllabus to aid in being a successful educator in order to produce successful students! Be prepared!

Learning is the most important thing going on in the classroom; not teaching. 

Lead by example! If you want to produce professionals, you need to be one!