Basic Teaching Skills for Career Education Instructors

Student Instructor Program

Presented by

Carol Woodard

Basic Teaching Skills for Career Education InstructorsChapter 2The Teaching Plan and Learning Environment

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A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.- Henry Brooks Adams

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LEARNING MOTIVATION (WHY?)You are embarking on an exciting new career as an educator. Unfortunately, you dont just walk into the classroom the first day of school and start teaching. There is a great deal of preparation required for both the beginning and seasoned instructor on how to organize for effective teaching. Your role as an educator will comprise many elements, including your time as teacher, your time in the office in administrative responsibilities, your time in preparation and gathering materials and supplies, your time in academic advising, and so much more. In todays lesson we will focus on the importance of planning and preparation. It is an established fact in teaching that the more time you spend in preparation, the more time you will have available in your classroom to facilitate interactive, discovery-oriented learning. So, lets get started.

Educator Ability

Lead and inspireCreate positive learning environmentProvide pathway to successFacilitate learningOrganized environmentCareful planning and preparation

4The Teaching Plan: The educators ability to lead and inspire students to a sincere desire for learning is critical in the educational process.

Educator AbilityLead and inspire:You have to lead students into desiring learning. Create positive learning environment.Provide pathway to success.Facilitate learning:To facilitate means to make easier. Make the classroom more pleasant and conducive to education.Organized environment:Careful planning and preparation.

Know subject matterCurrent trendsStudent body sizePlanned activitiesIdentify materials and equipmentTeacher Organization and Preparation

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Teacher Organization and PreparationKnow subject matter.You must be completely competent in the subjects you teach.Current trends.If your industry experiences frequent changes, you must stay abreast of those changes.Student body size.Planned activities. You will want to learn about your students and find out what brought them to this class.Identify materials and equipment.It is important to identify, in advance, the materials and equipment necessary to properly facilitate learning of the subject matter.

Proper Organization

Understand student bodyAllot and designate class timeAllow appropriate office timeSet up effective records managementPlan daily activitiesMaintain current skills/knowledgeMaximize budget

6Proper OrganizationUnderstand student body: Well look more closely at student demographics later.Allot and designate class time: Class time will be based on the number of hours designated by your oversight agencies and the class size.Allow appropriate office time: Every teacher needs to schedule office time to ensure that student needs are appropriately met.Set up effective records management: Well look more closely at this area later as well.Plan daily activities: A big responsibility of instructors is to keep students busy.Maintain current skills/knowledge: You must know your subject matter. There is no better way to gain expertise in any subject matter than to teach it.Maximize budget: Once the financial budget has been determined, the educator must explore the opportunities to maximize its use.

Organize educational aids/resourcesDevelop professional handoutsReview course materials and resourcesCreate welcoming/safe environmentCreate checklistsEstablish tone and expectationsProper Organization (contd)

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Organize educational aids/resources: Every school will offer or make available a variety of resources. The educator should organize those materials/resources effectively.Develop professional handouts: Nothing sends the message that you dont care to students than poorly prepared, outdated handouts with lots of marks and faded ink.Review course materials/resourcesCreate welcoming/safe environmentCreate checklistsEstablish tone and expectations: Setting the appropriate tone for the first day is critical to creating a dynamic learning environment. Organization facilitates a smooth-running class. Students will receive timely feedback and understand progress through the course.

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General Organization

Copy materialProperly file materialFile trade journalsArrange references and resource booksSchedule office timeCreate support system among faculty

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General Organization: There is lots of data available. An information system is critical. The system may be electronic or hard copy.1.Copy material. Either electronically or in print.2.Properly file material. Create folders and subfiles.3.File trade journals.4.Arrange references and resource books.5.Schedule office time.6. Create support system among faculty.

Assessment and OrganizationCreate a student profileCreate a record of student progressDocument student contacts

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Assessing Students and Organizing Information: Learn as much as you can about your students. 1.Create a student profile.2.Create a record of student progress.3.Document student contacts.

Elements of the Environment

Comfortable and safeWell-ventilated and organizedProper lightingEquipment operated safelyAppropriate storage and cleanupEducators desk/work area

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Managing the Atmosphere.The classroom is your domain. Take pride in its appearance and create a safehaven for learning.Elements of the Environment.Comfortable and safeWell-ventilated and organizedProper lightingEquipment operated safelyAppropriate storage and cleanupEducators Desk/Work Area. Educator must model behavior for students to mirror.

Consider the Environment

Student demographicsAdult learner characteristicsThe physical classroomThe seating arrangements

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Consider the Environment. We will look at each area individually.1.Student demographics2.Adult learner characteristics3.The physical classroom4.The seating arrangements

Student Demographics

AgeGenderEthnicityUnique Interests

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Student Demographics1.Age. You will have students ranging in age from 18 to 60. You must respect every age level.2.Gender. Male students tend to keep speaking when interrupted. Female students tend to be more vulnerable and less likely to re-enter class discussion after being interrupted.3.Ethnicity. Ethnicity could influence how students perceive and learn information.4.Unique interests. Hobbies and special interests can be used to relate to the learning process.

Goal orientationPast educational experienceIngrained habitsEstablished opinionsRelationship to prior knowledgeInvolvement is neededAdult Learner Characteristics

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Adult Learner Characteristics. Why are they here? What experience do they bring?1.Goal Orientation. Relevance is important to adult learners. 2.Past Educational Experience. Were their educational experiences positive or negative? What impact will that have on their experience here?3.Ingrained Habits. Adult learners may be less flexible or more difficult to persuade.4.Established Opinions. Opinions may not always be productive but should be recognized as important. Adults need their ideas to have value and weight.5.Relationship to prior knowledge. Adult learners make connections with information and knowledge they already have.6.Involvement is needed. Adults dont want to sit and receive. They need to participate.

Making It Happen

Personal profile

Brainstorm in groups or teams

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Personal Profile: Create a questionnaire and have students write a personal profile early on in the course.Group Brainstorming: Conduct a group brainstorming session where all students discuss their educational and cultural backgrounds, past work experience, special interests, and why they have chosen this field of study.

The Physical Environment

Room sizeAcousticsLightingVentilationWindows/blindsAudiovisual aidsSeating

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1. Room size. Based on the desks or student stations used, determine what is the largest class size the room can accommodate. 2. Acoustics. Will a microphone be needed? Is there potential for distracting noise? 3. Lighting. Where are the switches? How do the bulbs affect the boards and screens?4. Ventilation. Where are the controls for heating and cooling? Where are the vents? Can they be adjusted to affect room temperature?5. Windows/blinds. Can they be adjusted to prevent glare or shadows on boards and screens?6. A/V aids. Are they sufficient to meet the educational objectives for the course? Are there sufficient electrical outlets? Are extension cords needed?7. Seating. Will the room accommodate different seating arrangements to meet educational objectives?

The Motivating Classroom

Varied instructional activitiesSuit teacher/student needsEquipment/supply storageNo auditory or visual distractionsClear view of learnersAccessible materialsCreate excitement!

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The Motivating Classroom1. Varied instructional activities. You may need to have multiple activities occurring simultaneously.2. Suit teacher/student needs3. Equipment/supply storage4. No auditory/visual distractions5. Clear view of learners6. Accessible materials7. Create excitement. Student motivation is internal; however, teachers can create circumstances within which the students can become self-motivated.

Classroom Design

Educator presenceArrive early and greet studentsPre-assigned seatingLearning activities scheduledMotivational postersBulletin boards

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Room Design1. Educator presence. Caring educators will be present in the classroom.Like you expect of your students, leave your personal issues at home and dedicate 100% of yourself to the classroom while youre there.2. Arrive early/greet students. A committed educator will be at the door greeting students when they arrive and at the door to send them on their way at the end of the class.3. Preassigned seating. While adults learners do expect to have a degree of mastery and control over their own lives and are not particularly pleased with assigned seating, there are times when its appropriate. Perhaps during the first week of class, it can be beneficial in learning all students names, which is a critical task for teachers. Test day, special projects, etc. may justify putting students together in specific groups as well.4. Learning activities scheduled. A prepared teacher will have already reviewed and prepared a variety of learning activities suitable for the class ahead of time.5. Motivational posters. Educators should take advantage of the local educational supply store to purchase motivational posters. Many are available that relate to the subject matter and others are highly effective in dealing with human relations, ethics, communications, etc. It is recommended that be laminated to ensure longer use and cost effectiveness. Mount them with straight pins to avoid damage to the walls.6. Bulletin boards. Bulletin boards can be used to enhance learning, increase content retention, and notify students of important information such as assignments, procedures, job openings, etc.

Use of ColorPale yellow/almond nonirritating

Pale pink/light rose soothing

Green sense of security/creativity

Blue relaxes/secretes tranquilizing hormones

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Use of color. Many of our students are highly visual learners. Using color can have a major impact on learning. Encourage students to take notes and complete mind maps with different colors by topic.

Seating Arrangements

U-shaped table

Circle

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Seating Arrangements1. U-Shaped Table. Effective for small classes up to about 15 people. Effective for lecture, demonstration, and discussion. Gives facilitator high degree of control and lower participation from learners.2. Circle. Effective for small classes up to 15 people. Suitable for lectures, discussion, role-playing, and case studies. Ineffective for visual aid projection. Gives facilitator high degree of control AND promotes good student participation.

Boardroom

Semicircle

Classroom

213. Boardroom. Suitable for roundtable discussions. Suitable for staff meetings. Gives facilitator medium control and limits learner participation.4. Semicircle. Highly effective for small classes up to about 10 learners. Effective for informal discussion and allows facilitator to be seated. Effective for visual aids. Provides facilitator a high degree of control and a high degree of learner participation.5. Classroom. Most common in traditional education, but not the most effective. Used for lecture, demonstration, discussion, panel discussions. Provides facilitator with high degree of control, but poor participation by learners.

Chevron

Theater

226. Chevron. Also known as the V-shape. Give facilitator medium control and encourages learner participation. Suitable for lecture, demonstration, discussion, role-playing, case studies.7. Theater. Typically, there is no desktop. Suitable for lecture, slide shows, and video projection. Gives facilitator medium control and discourages learner participation.

Amphitheater

Half-Rounds (Cabaret)

238. Amphitheater. Not common in small career education schools. Effective for lecture, demonstration, slide or video projection, and role-playing. Facilitator has high degree of control, but lesser degree of learner participation.9. Half-Rounds or Crescents. Also known as cabaret. Most popular for learner-centered education. Used for lecture, demonstration, discussion, slide or video projection, role-playing, group projects, and activities. Facilitator has lesser degree of control, but encourages high degree of participation by learners. Changing the arrangement creates interest and reduces monotony.

The Practical Classroom

Special needs accessibilityLab stationsEquipmentSuppliesPolicies and procedures

24The Practical Classroom1. Special Needs Accessibility. Students with documented disabilities are entitled to receive special accommodations.2. Lab Stations. Ensure there is a sufficient number for the largest class assigned.3. Equipment. Should all work properly. Know whom to contact with maintenance and repair needs. Know how to work all properly. Be able to demonstrate effectively.4. Supplies. Based on class schedule, ensure that all required supplies for each lab activity are ordered timely. Make sure they are stored properly according to OSHA, etc.5. Policies and Procedures. Follow established school procedures. Communicate procedures to students. Post and enforce procedures.6. Learning Facilities Checklist. Refer students to Table 2-1 and discuss contents.

Teaching Materials

RelevanceStudent levelTimelinessCredibility / AuthorityOrganization / Layout

25Teaching MaterialsTextbooks. There are several elements to consider when selecting textbooks. Refer students to Table 2-2 and discuss its use.1. Relevance. Does it meet course objectives?2. Student Level. Is it appropriate to student body educational level?3. Timeliness. Is it current?4. Credibility/Authority. Are the publisher and author credible?5. Organization/Layout. Thoroughly review the table of contents, glossary, appendices, and index. Consider the paper quality and page layout for effective learning. Are the margins too narrow? Is there too much clutter? Are the visuals distracting or beneficial?

Administrative ResponsibilitiesSchool rules and regulationsAccurate recordsAttendanceGradingLesson plans

26Administrative Responsibilities1. School Rules and Regulations2. Accurate Records3. Attendance. Monitor procedures set forth by school.4. Grading. Follow applicable satisfactory progress policy.5. Lesson Plans. Professionally published lesson plans are now available for many career education programs. The instructor needs to follow the published curriculum implicitly and document the schedule.

Academic advisingStudent surveysAdvisory council meetingsFacility reportsContinuing educationAdministrative Responsibilities (contd)

276. Academic Advising. This topic will be covered more thoroughly in Volume I, Chapter 9, Assessing Student Progress.7. Student Surveys. Accrediting agencies often require feedback to be obtained from current and graduate students. Instructors may be asked to participate in the collection of such feedback.8. Advisory Council Meetings. Instructors may also be invited to participate in regular meetings with the schools advisory council.9. Facility Reports. Instructors may be required to make reports regarding the facility to the appropriate department or management.10. Continuing Education. Finally, instructors may also be required to meet certain continuing education requirements and document such participation.

Welcoming New Students

New student orientation

28Welcoming New StudentsNew Student Orientation. The first day of class sets the stage and mood for the remainder of the course. We will cover this important activity more thoroughly in Volume I, Chapter 6.

Congratulations!You have just completed one unit of study in your Instructor Training Program.

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SUMMARY AND REVIEW: We have established the importance of preparation and organization by the educator prior to the actual start of the class. Educators must maintain current knowledge relative to the field of study. It is necessary to develop organized work habits to ensure that administrative tasks such as record keeping and reports are completed accurately and timely. Classrooms must be safe while also providing a motivating and comfortable environment for learning. Course information requires organization to ensure that instructors have the required resources available when they are needed. Preparation and ongoing performance require organization to save time, work efficiently, and ensure greater opportunities for success.