Richard Sizemore

I like to pull techniques and advice from other instructors. I have had a class of instructors teaching others methods of teaching. That class showed me different class presence and different ways to connect with students.

At my institution we have set guidelines in place for students who can be disruptive. We have guidelines in place for cheating and other violations. Each phase we outline these guidelines so that the students have a good understanding of expectations. This seems to deter most from pushing the boundaries of the instructor and keeps them focused on learning the course curriculum.

At my institution we limit cell phone use to a minimum. As far as when we are in lecture we have the support of more than one instructor in the class. This allows one instructor to focus on delivering the lecture while the other can focus on keeping the students focused on the content.

In my class I have used an icebreaker where the students give their name, where they are from and what they expect from the course content. This exercise along with my own introduction helps students know what to expect from me and helps me get to know them on a more personal level.

My main take away from this lesson would be attention span. Trying to keep the students interested and involved can be difficult and will be something I will be working to be better at.

I have noticed most of these first day practices in place at my institution. I know I am bad with remembering names and will work on new things to be stronger in this area.

In this section I realized that showing up early can really show your students that you are there for them and care.

The students view you as a model and as a new instructor you should look to senior instructors as models for you.