INDIVIDUAL ASPECTS OF TEACHING
Developing your own teaching style
What works for one instructor does not necessarily work for another. Award winning teachers vary appreciably in lecture preparation, use of instructional media, methods of promoting students' participation, use of humor, ways of relating to students, etc. Some instructors are very formal in their interactions with students while others are very informal. In both cases, rapport with students may be excellent.
Developing a unique and effective teaching style requires time, effort, and a willingness to experiment with different teaching strategies. A critical part of experimentation is assessment of the results. That can be as simple as an open discussion with students, adding an item to the student evaluation form, or measuring student performance on a problem set. We hope that this guide will stimulate experimentation and encourage instructors to continually examine the effectiveness of their teaching.
In the first few years of teaching, expect to be nervous before lecture and exhausted afterwards.
Project self-confidence. Act as if you are in command of the subject matter. (You only need to be about one step ahead of the students.)
When you suffer from stage fright (every instructor does from time to time), chances are that the students do not notice it.
If you are unduly nervous (a number of instructors are), try relaxation exercises (e.g., physical activity before class, mentally visualize yourself as a great teacher - relaxed, confident, witty). Experiment with various relaxation techniques to find out what works for you.
Consider telling the students that you are nervous, especially if you can joke about it. Students are very sympathetic to this feeling.
Take a workshop or class in public speaking.
Attend presentations given by good instructors, paying especial attention to their technique.
Be sensitive to student stress. A low level of anxiety tends to facilitate learning; a high level of anxiety can interfere with learning.