As an instructor, how many times have you had a participant ask a question you didn't know the answer to? The most experienced instructors out there will have this happen on a regular basis. Here are some suggested ways you can address this problem.
1. It's okay to admit you don't know the answer - we're not expected to know everything!
2. You could mention that this is something you would like to learn more about yourself and offer to find out and report back to the group.
3. Ask the other participants for their ideas and input - it's amazing how much your participants know collectively and how much you can learn from them!
4. Get clarification or more information from the inquirer about what they are really trying to find out. You might be able to still help them with an issue even though you may not be able to immediately answer their direct question to you.
5. Keep your confidence and don't become rattled or shaken. Participants want to view you as someone who can guide them, and may question how helpful you are if you don't appear confident.
Share your thoughts by commenting.
Beth Wickham, Director
3 comments:
Excellent suggestions! One of the ways I address the problem is to try and schedule a multiple-session class. That way, I can field the question and provide an answer at the next meeting. Of course, this can be a problem at the last meeting, so I make sure I have the email address of the person who ask the question and then send them my answer.
Thank you Tom for stating that. We often forget that we can give ourselves time to come up with answers and don't have to have all the answers at our fingertips.
What do you do when you can answer all the questions? Go to cruise-control mode? Become bored and let the students know it? Stop teaching the subject? How about teaching a different and related subject! Keep your own brain cells working, develop a greater indepth knowledge about the subject, and maintain your skills as a teacher.
Post a Comment