This semester has really been a whirl wind introduction to the art of teaching at the undergraduate level. I am truly grateful to have had this experience and have learned a lot about teaching, students, and myself. In a lot of ways what you learn about teaching double as really important life lessons.
One of the most interesting things I learned about teaching was that, much like a comedian, you have “set pieces.” You have to create a few different sets for each lecture and you have to practice them to gain confidence in your delivery. (Not so much of a life lesson parallel with this one. However, it is important to be confident in yourself and your knowledge and your abilities as a teacher and an individual.)
There are such a wide range of ideas and behaviors about teaching techniques. You have to do things that you are comfortable with and confident in. There are always so many opinions out there on how one should look, act, etc. You have to be your own person and decide what works for you and learn not to take all of those opinions and criticisms to heart.
Humor is very important. Having a good sense of humor will not only make life easier on you but make the classroom more relaxed. If something funny happens, laugh. If something embarassing happens, laugh. You need to look human to the students and humor is one of the best ways to relate on a humanistic level. I need to be able to work a little more humor into my lectures to help myself relax and relate better with the students.
Humor also helps with the entertainment factor. Lectures, classes, school, needs to be entertaining. It does not need to be an extravagant circus and you do not need to pull out all of the bells and whistles all of the time. However, it definitely increases attention and participation from students. My mom often comments on how she feels as if she is there to entertain 25 third graders all day. She has to make math and writing and science fun to encourage all of the students to want to learn the material. I think this entertainment factor tends to have a greater focus with younger children, but it is equally important for college students. We do not like to be bored to death either! I know of a professor who has a condition which causes him to lose his voice frequently. In the event that he has lost his voice, he will play a cassette taped lecture to the class and write on the board as the tape plays. He has every one of his lectures on tape! That quite possibly means he has not changed his material in thirty years. I can not imagine having to sit through an hour and half lecture on tape.
I have also realized how important it is to stay current. Use current pictures, current studies. Students really do value pictures and examples they can relate to or have heard about. That helps them connect things they have seen in their lives with the topics you are discussing. The more connections they can make the better! If you use current issues/studies/pictures, the students are also more likely to be exposed to them outside of class time. Hopefully, acting as reminders and reinforcers of what they learned in class.
You have to be ready to change and adapt to any situation. You have to remain be able to adapt for the spontaneities of life that occur personally and in the classroom. You have to be willing to try new things and experiement with new ideas. You have to consistently be willing to challenge yourself and never stop your learning process. I think it is incredibly easy for teachers to get stuck in a rut and not extend themselves or try new things. In the beginning, they find a few things that work for them and keep doing those year after year. Eventually they will get bored and that boredom will show through when they teach.
I truly believe that one should never stop learning, doing, or experiencing. Humans are not static creatures. They are dynamic. You have to be willing to grow and change at every stage of your life. You have to be ready for new challenges and open yourself to the new lessons you can learn throughout your lifespan.
Throughout my interviewing process and this class I have had to really consider what is going to be important to me in my future careers. What I am really going to focus on and make my goal. I truly believe that all educators (really anyone who works with people) should work to help that individual reach their own optimal development and learning outcomes. Each person comes from a very unique family background and history that shapes them. Each person has their own abilities and talents, as well as challenges and struggles. There are times when we have to tailor learning so that is able to reach a mass of people. However, supports need to be available for people all over the spectrum of ability. We need to begin investing in each person in order to improve not only their individual well-being but the well-being of our society.
I do believe that with age, more responsibility should fall on the individual. They have to be willing to learn and open to support in order to continue to grow. However, being able to take responsibility for yourself is something you need to start learning and practicing at a very young age. I do not feel we can blame young adults who were never taught to take care of themselves. We cannot expect them to know how to be responsible, active members of our communities.