Filling Your Backpack

From November 2008 archived blog
by Mickey Wircenski

More than ever, the role of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructor is demanding more of our professional skills and knowledge. For anyone who has never taught, it may look easy. However, veteran instructors know that there is enough to keep them continually busy 23 out of 24 hours in the day. 

Today’s “blended classroom” contains a variety of students with different learning styles, economic factors, family factors, cultural and ethnic influences, student learning styles, and varied student learning paces. This makes the process of “teaching” a complicated and sophisticated one!

The challenges of a CTE instructor include:
Planning instruction:

• Deciding what to teach
• Deciding how to teach
• Communicating realistic expectations to students

Managing instruction:

• Preparing to teach the content
• Using time productively
• Establishing a positive classroom environment

Delivering Instruction:

• Motivating learners
• Presenting content
• Providing relevant practice
• Keeping students actively involved
• Providing timely feedback
• Making appropriate accommodations for students with learning challenges

Evaluating Instruction:

• Monitoring learner understanding
• Maintaining records of learner progress
• Informing learners of their progress

In an attempt to fill our instructional backpack CTE instructors should become actively involved in collecting and using information in the following areas:

• Instructional planning
• Motivational techniques
• Learning styles
• Cooperative learning groups
• Learning environment design
• Instructional strategies
• Questioning and feedback strategies
• Methods of application and practice
• Assessment techniques (e.g., authentic assessment)

For those who are veterans in the classroom, many of these elements are familiar. They have been studied and practiced in the teaching process. For those new to the teaching profession, many of these elements are new and “undiscovered”. It is our responsibility as teaching professionals to continue to “fill our backpacks” for the future. Remember: No one has all of the pieces of the “instructional puzzle”. We must all be continuous learners. The stakes are high. Our students are counting on us.