goldfish

Hi all.. I will be working part-time as a visiting lecturer/teacher in polytechnic starting from next month. Teaching is new to me, thus I'd like to get some tips or idea in how to be a good lecturer/teacher. I have never studied in poly before and I'm not sure what kind of students I will be facing and what are the expectation from the students. Maybe the current or ex-poly students or anyone can give me some advice? thanks a lot...

** just realized this should be posted under the "jobs" section, can moderator help to move it? very sorry for the trouble, arigato..

Calis

I'm an alumni of Singapore Polytechnic. A polytechnic's lectures and tutorials are very much like a university's. Polytechnic students do not need to wear uniforms and the school atmosphere is free and easy. As in any academicinsitute, you will encounter all sorts of students: the smart, the lazy, the diligent, those who ask for tips etc. Polytechnic students nowadays are more receptive to friendly lecturers, but some stern & no-nonsense lecturers also earned the students' respect & love. The expectations for each batch of students will be different, but 1 thing is definite: no direct teaching & repeating word-for-word from the notes you give them. They do not like 'dead' teaching methods. Please do take note that you have to write your own lessons & lesson plans, lecture notes, tutorial questions and design experiments for that semester.

I would like to share with you what I have posted in the tuition thread some time back on how to be a good tutor/lecturer & what I would do:

To be a good tutor/lecturer, there are a few skills to master.
1. Understanding your students' style of learning
2. Inspiration and motivational skills
3. How to write and plan a good lesson plan
4. How to structure homework and choose practice questions according to
students' ability
5. How to structure your lesson playing by ear according to students' state of
mind & emotion during the lesson
6. Be clear on how you deliver your lessons and flow of the lessons to your
students so that they can follow what you're doing.


On delivery of lectures & tutorials

Usually, the first lessons are orientations. The following objectives and processes are advised:

1. Get to know the students by their names

2. Introduce yourself

3. Understand your student(s) learning style, preference, habits

4. Explain your teaching & tutoring style and what you expect from your students(s), i.e setting the ground rules.

5. Assessing the students' level of proficiency & understanding by looking through their homework/tutorials, tests and exams

7. Brief/explain to the student(s) why they are studying the subject(s) and
give them an overview of the current year's syllabus.

The first session is important as it helps to set the tone for the next lesson onwards, the general teaching methodology, knowing your student's ability etc. This then also goes some ways in giving you an idea on how to draft out your lesson plans for the next 1,2 lessons before you adjust/modify as you go along.

What is most important is that you have your own style of teaching and tutoring. The above are only meant for reference. You will develop your own teaching methodology & style as you progress along with your experience. The next important thing is to get along & interact with your students. When you earn their respect and their listening ears, they'll listen to your lectures.

All the best to your teaching! :biggrin4:

goldfish

hey Calis, thanks so much... I didnt know that I have to prepare the lecture notes & the rest on my own @.@ I think I may back out from teaching then, since it's so tough.

Calis

Goldfish, on whether how much lectures & tutorials you have to prepare depends on which module you are teaching. Some modules are not so heavy on theory.

Since you are new to teaching, you will naturally feel that it's very difficult. It happens to all teachers, whether in polytechnics, schools or private tutors. As for the preparation of lecture notes, tutorials and lesson plans, it takes some practice and adjustments along the way. When you are gain more experience and proficiency, and you will find that writing lecture notes will be much easier.

As for writing lecture notes, you can refer to reference books and see how the books' chapters are organised and use that as a reference format.

I think teaching in a polytechnic can be an enriching and fulfilling experience. Why not give it a shot? Don't give up so easily k?

goldfish

Calis, thanks a lot for your encouraging words =) most likely I will be teaching IT subjects related, but no guarantee also.. once they decided the subject, I will go thru the past semesters lecture notes and check out books in the libraries to get some idea. I think I will see how first and maybe give it a try yea. Will need your further advise on this again in the future thanks!

sihwee

Another thing, you have to endure student walking in and out of classroom.. lols.

goldfish

hee ok will note that too =p ... but am I allowed to say something to the student who anyhow walk in and out of the classroom?

micxiao

ya, don't ignore the person, or else he will think it is alright to keep doing that.

poor me
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

___________________

goldfish

oh okay, maybe I have to attend briefing from the poly first on how to deal with the students.
cos I understand that students nowadays dont like to be controlled, so I must be careful not to hurt the students' pride.
thanks for your advise ah ^^