I definitely have the problem of time. Each class is different. One class will finish 15 minutes early and the next will not get finished. It's hard to keep all classes at the same place in content. Some classes like instruction, while others like independent work, and yet others, like activities.
I had an activity planned but didn't run through it first and it was not very good at all. I learned always practice a hybrid simulation before implementing it. EVEN if it seems so simple.
Understand mistakes will happen. Do not dwell on the mistake but learn and look for ways to improve in the future.
I think it's incredibly important, especially for new instructors, to understand that you are not expected to be perfect or have all the answers all the time. You are going to make mistakes; you're going to say something wrong, and that's okay. Rather than try to come up with something off the top of your head just to have an answer, it's okay to tell a student, "I don't have an answer for that, but let's do a little research together and find out". I find that students tend to respect this response, and it leads to growth not just for the student but for the instructor as well.
Make it a habit to learn your students' names. It helps to show the students that you care about them.
Important not to be best friends with your students
I think that most new instructors will try and overcompensate for how new they are, and they feel that they have to bombard students with a massive amount of information, even when simpler information would do well.
Preparation of topic, taking notes and self-evaluating after each class is main takeaway from this session.
Being prepared makes me feel so much better. I can "get through" a lesson by winging it, but I feel better, and I KNOW it is a better lesson when I prepare.
We as instructors must be prepared and come in competent subject matter experts. Additionally, we must first do the job poorly so we can grow to doing the job well.
Your goal as a professional instructor is to be seen by students as a professional educator who cares about them and their success. A person who reflects the characteristics of what is required for success in the career field,
When a lesson doesn't go as planned, make notes and review them for next year.
Errors happen, we are only human...
I've learned to be aware of my mistakes and not be afraid to admit to them and correct.
Do not be afraid to make mistakes in the classroom.
Be prepare for the class and ready to visualize mistakes and use humor to address
Be confident in yourself and your knowledge. Your ability to develop your own way of presenting it will unfold on its own.
When a instuctor expects perfection from a student and talks down to them, it's not the proper thing to do.
Not preparing and planning for your class.
Some things on the list I was excited to see that I naturally feel drawn to employ. A few others are hard learnings for me. I recently have found myself treading the line of "complaining about the institution" because I don't have adequate facilities to give them proper hands-on training as a CTE course. But that can also be framed as a "real world problem" not just a complaint. We are under-resourced and that is a fact. It is OK to say that while having the institution's back.
My big thing is having a messy desk. I didnt think they kids would think I am disorganized if my desk is messy.
It does drive me crazy having papers to grade and having them sit on my table.
I can learn names pretty fast and I tend to be a fun teacher which makes my rapport with students easy.
