Diabetes Prevention - Controlling My Portions
I have really enjoyed this class and learned a lot from preparing the lesson plan. I have very little experience working with groups so this was out of my comfort zone. As a health coach I work primarily one-on-one and over the phone so it was a challenge, for me, working to figure out how to be more interactive with a group that's right in front of me.
I know I would have been much more comfortable just presenting a basic diabetes education lecture because I am familiar with the material but that isn't the most effective way to teach a group. The challenge was making the lesson more interactive and more student oriented. I certainly appreciate the value of having more interactive lessons. I really enjoyed everyones presentations and their interactive components.
I feel there are a several things that could have been done to improve my presentation. I seriously underestimated how nervous I would be presenting to my classmates. I knew I was nervous but the anxiety really crept up on me as I started the presentation. There was fidgeting and my voice started to crack. Thankfully I was able to keep going and focus on the presentation :-)
I feel that I need to work on the pacing of my words as I tend to speak fast. I also tend to jumble my thoughts and can over elaborate on one point while forgetting to discuss another. There were a few points that I left out because I just simply forgot or because I was afraid of going over on time. I also feel that I had some good examples but could have presented them in a clearer manner.
At the end I asked the class to give me examples of their meals. I felt that maybe I came across as critical of the foods chosen. I think a better approach would have been to ask about the meal and have them tell me a way to improve that meal choice for next time.
I think my strength is my familiarity with diabetes and the Hispanic population. I feel that I am comfortable working with this population and this particular disease and that helps as me as educator. Overall it was fun presenting the material and pretending I had a group of Hispanic, Spanish-speaking women in front of me. The class was very helpful and played along. It really helped me ease into my presentation and helped me complete the lesson. Without the class's cooperation it would a very short and plain presentation.
To view the video please go to http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit?video_id=r2pOkinf31g
Alex, I felt your presentation was good. You may have been nervous (we all are)but it did not show as much as you think. Your information was good and easy to follow. Thanks for your presentation of a topic that touches many lives.
ReplyDeleteALex,
ReplyDeleteI feel your views may be a little too hard on yourself. I thought you did a great job with your presentation to the class. Many of the issues you wrote about, I did not even pick up. Sometimes we are our own worst critics. I know you work more of a one on one situation in your coaching, but I think you are ready for teaching a class setting without any problem.
Great Job.
BJ
Alex, I thought you seemed comfortable with your presentation. Your slideshow of traditional Mexican dishes was very effective. I think it showed that with a few simple changes you can really change the caloric intake of a meal. Your use of Spanish terms helped us relate to the target Hispanic audience. As far as leaving out points you wanted to cover, I think we all did that. I know I did. Your explanation of diabetes was appropriate for this audience and reflected your knowledge of the topic. Thanks. Kay
ReplyDeleteAlex, I understand what you mean about it being easier to just lecture when you know the material so well. As educators, we have to go outside our comfort zones to make sure we are following what we know are good pedagogical practices. At our first meeting with Dr. Golman, she showed up a pyramid that displayed how much information students retain from various teaching practices. Lecture was at the top and therefore represented the smallest percentage of information retained. I've learned this semester from trying to incorporate student centered practices in the courses I teach, that it is not only difficult for the instructor, but it can be outside the comfort zone of the students as well. Each semester I learn better ways teaching, and hopeully teaching in a student centered way will be second nature to me one day as lecture is for me now.
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