Congratulations on starting your new teaching career! Now, the hard work begins. As you meet your new students and other faculty members, doing your best in the classroom will always be in the back of your mind. The thought of teaching courses in psychology can be daunting for new teachers, but there are many helpful hints available that can make getting through your first years easier. Here are some great tips you can use to increase your effectiveness in the classroom and keep your students engaged throughout the course.
Start With A Proper Introduction
On your first day with your new students, introduce yourself and the course you will be teaching with a simple overview of what they can expect. It can be helpful for students to understand why you became interested in psychology and what they can hope to take away from the course. You can also take this time to put the course in perspective and explain your goals and expectations. If your students know what to expect from the beginning, it will be easier for them to stay on track during the course.
Provide Clear Instructions
It is important for everyone to have clear instructions from the beginning of the course. For example, the syllabus provided to the students should be detailed and contain all of the important dates that students need to know. There are a number of resources available that help you create the documents that your students will need to succeed. Psychology teachers can visit GLNConsulting.com for helpful tools that assist with the creation of a wide variety of different plans for classes.
Provide Feedback Quickly
One of the best things you can do for your students is to provide them with feedback quickly so that they understand where they stand in your class. Grade papers and tests quickly and make yourself available to answer questions they may have about their grades or their understanding of the material. Be approachable, friendly, and encouraging, but make sure that you are honest as well. In return, you will receive feedback from your students on how effective your teaching methods are and how they are enjoying learning in your classroom. Learning how your students view the way you teach will help you improve your teaching skills and help you become a better teacher in the future.
