5 Ways of Preparing for Your Class for Effective Delivery
Whether you’re new to teaching or have been doing it for years, there are a few ways you can prepare for your class so that it goes smoothly and you can deliver your lecture or talk with confidence.
For example, consider jotting down questions you’d like to answer in your notes before the class begins. This way, when you come back to the material later, you’ll be able to answer those questions with confidence.
1. Make Sure You Know What You’re Talking About
When you know the material you are talking about and are prepared to discuss it, it makes for a much more effective class. This is especially important if you have a class that is highly interactive and will require you to participate in discussion.
A good way to prepare for this is by reading the material ahead of time, as well as any relevant readings that may be discussed during class. Having this done will make you less nervous in class and allow you to concentrate on what you are doing.
You should also make sure that you are ready to answer questions from students in the class, especially if they have questions about the material you have covered. If you are not, this can negatively affect the flow of class.
2. Be Prepared to Answer Questions
To ensure that your students can participate in class activities, prepare questions that are appropriate for different types of learners. Consider including questions that require little or no reading, such as listening and speaking.
Be prepared to answer questions in a variety of ways, such as by asking them to raise their hands or by waiting for students to finish answering their question.
The best questions are ones that require students to think deeply and form an answer.
Aim to ask a series of questions that shift from simple informational answers up to more abstract thinking, such as why and what if. These deeper questions illuminate where students have misconceptions and encourage them to go further on the topic.
3. Know Your Material
Knowing your material well before presenting it to an audience is crucial to making the most of your presentation. Whether you’re speaking to business colleagues, school teachers, or college students, knowing your material will help you to connect with your audience and present the information effectively.
When you are preparing your lecture, it is important to take the time to preview your text or reading assignments prior to class. This will help you to identify the most important concepts and ideas that need to be covered.
When new terms or complex formulas are used for the first time, it is essential to define them clearly and provide examples that illustrate their use. Providing examples helps students connect the new concept to their previous knowledge and their lives.
4. Be Prepared to Ask Questions
One of the most effective ways to engage students in your class is by asking questions. You can use this opportunity to probe and clarify course content, elicit multi-layered inferences, and encourage critical thinking skills.
You can also ask open-ended questions that require students to explain or expand their responses. These questions can also help you identify students who are struggling with the material.
Make sure to give students ample time to answer your questions before interrupting their ideas. Research has found that waiting a few seconds after asking a question can lengthen student responses, enhance their reasoning, and back up their claims with evidence.
5. Be Prepared to Respond
When students ask you about your own personal perspective, make sure you are prepared to share it. This can help you model your own willingness to discuss challenging issues, and may also respond to comments that marginalize or devalue some students.
For example, if a student makes a racist or sexist comment, be ready to address it and show how you can work past it. This will build trust with students who may be feeling uncomfortable and hesitant to have such discussions in class.
When discussing a challenging topic, keep in mind that it can take some time for students to formulate their answers. For this reason, you may need to defer the discussion until a later class period. This allows you to give the students the opportunity to formulate their response within a more context-driven framework.
