To investigate and improve how you interact with your students

Aim

To investigate and improve how you interact with your students

Reflection

Ask a colleague to observe you in a teaching session and to make notes on the way in which you manage your interactions with the students.  They could watch out for examples of the ways in which you encourage their participation in activities and respond to their questions.  Discuss the session together afterwards.

Alternatively, set up a video camera to record a session which you take.  Analyse the playback in terms of the issues above.

Sometimes people only see what seems to be going wrong!  If there is a danger that you are becoming negative about your skills and judgements then adopt the 3 to 1 rule.  This rule states that you can only identify one negative thing after you have identified three positives.  When you run out of positives you have to stop.  (This strategy also works with students who have been asked to evaluate their own work or that of others!)

Try to identify possible improvements which could be made.  These can be practised and worked on.  Give yourself time to develop your expertise.