Rebecca Collins

Humans make mistakes and we are ALL human and we ALL make mistakes. It is how you handle your mistakes that will make you a better person and a better instructor. Own your mistakes, laugh at yourself, resolve the mistake, and move on. Make notes of the mistake and the resolution so that you can refer back and not make the same mistakes over and over again. This is also valuable for the students to learn as well so that they learn to handle their own mistakes.

I learned that the very first thing to do when you have a student that is being disruptive in any way is to have a discussion with them privately and LISTEN. Try to narrow down the problem, be it disrupting the class, cheating, or an angry student. LISTEN. Try to come to a resolution that will eliminate the disruptions. If you are unable to find resolution, then it is time to dismiss the student from your class. Be firm, and stand your ground, and follow protocol for all interactions and complete write ups as needed.

The number one cause for students not being engaged in the classroom or not paying attention, etc. is the instructor and the way the situation is being handled. You must first evaluate that you have done everything you can do to engage and motivate them. Once you have done that, you can then determine a course of action to get the student on track. External pressures often affect the students' performance as well. Determining your part and whether or not external pressures are having an effect, you can then begin working on specific strategies to get the student on track.

Student management combined with classroom management becomes educational management and is key to motivating and encouraging students. It is vital for instructors to blend and balance being an SME (Subject Matter Expert) with being an IDE (Instructional Delivery Expert). 

I learned that varying the delivery methods not only throughout the course, but also throughout the class session keeps the students engaged and retention of the information is much higher. I plan to continue to educate myself on delivery methods that will keep my knowledge relevant and keep my students engaged.

I learned from this module the importance of making an excellent first impression, especially with adult learners and cohort groups. I also learned the importance in allowing the students ample opportunities to interact and get to know each other as well. Both will help motivate students to learn. I intend to have detailed discussions and interactions as a class to facilitate these ideas, as well as meeting individually with students to determine a course of action to motivate them on an individual basis to facilitate learning, and to see them succeed.

I have learned that it is vital to be early and prepared by having all instructional components completed for yourself as the instructor, but also for the students to not only create a conducive teaching environment but also a productive learning environment. I intend to apply this knowledge by being fully prepared for the entire course, but also by being early, fully prepared and engaged in each course and classroom.

I learned that continuing education and research is going to be the key to learning how to combine my technical competence, professional competence, and personal competence into a respectable, professionally competent instructor. I will work hard to develop an instructional style that will motivate my students without overwhelming them, and will allow them to thrive, while building the best rapport possible.