Recording of Teaching and Self-Reflection

The UNO Division of Continuing Studies Transformative Teaching and Learning Initiative

Video Recording of Teaching and Self-Reflection

Self-Reflection – Video Recording of Teaching

Podcast: The Bathroom Sociologist, Episode 1 - Reading Strategies

(5) Excellent      (4) Good      (3) Average                   (2) Adequate                   (1) Needs Improvement    (N/O) Not Observed

	5	4	3	2	1	N/O
Preparedness		x
I seemed to be well-prepared		x
I had clear objectives for the presentation		x
I used appropriate materials to support lesson			x
Presentation	x
I was well-organized in my presentation			x
I defined unclear terms for students		x
I demonstrated enthusiasm for subject	x
I commanded presence in the room/on the screen	x
I maintained good eye contact						x
I provided appropriate examples to illustrate/clarity ideas		x
I related new ideas to prior knowledge/information		x
I used clear pronunciation and articulation		x
I encouraged dialogue and critical thinking			x
I used appropriate technology within presentation			x
Student Response
The students verbally responded when I asked them to						x
The students seemed to follow along with the presentation and discussion						x
Instructor Awareness
I noticed when ideas seemed unclear to students						x
I paused to ask appropriate questions						x
I responded appropriately to student questions and nonverbal cues						x

Describe your rapport with students, based on this presentation.

I think the podcast shows an instructor who is down-to-earth, enthusiastic about sociology, humorous, somewhat informal, is not the snobby ivory tower type academic, does not take himself too seriously while taking the work seriously, and who cares to equip his students with skills which will benefit them in more places than just the course in question.

Based on this presentation, what do you consider to be your strengths as an instructor?

Humor, enthusiasm, care for the intellectual development of students beyond my classroom, empathetic.

Based on this presentation, what do you consider to be your weaknesses as an instructor?

A propensity to digressions and asides. Sometimes seem to lack clarity.

Describe the student’s response to you as the instructor.

I don’t know what the student response to me as the instructor is in relation to this specific podcast. I have had students in the past say about my live-to-tape stuff in my courses that ‘they really appreciate it; that it sometimes helps them clarify something and that it makes the course a bit more personal’.

Describe your mannerisms (positive and negative) when presenting information.

Clear and concise, though with sometimes lengthier than ideal pauses or fillers to collect thoughts. On a positive note, I often manage to ‘Professor Snape’ my way through those pauses; turning them into time to build tension in the lecture and to walk a bit slower with students through the lesson. I make a good use of humor which is amusing and have a candid and somewhat informal style that I think engages the listener and makes listening less of a chore and, maybe, even interesting or enjoyable. If I am not careful I sometimes risk letting the humor run away with me. But then I just stop the tape and start over. The ‘live’ in live-to-tape can be highly relative. I tell stories which I feel are entertaining and humanize the topic. I use visualization exercises which help in the absence of visual aids.

Additional comments/things you noticed when watching your presentation.

It was a lot more fun than I thought it was going to be.