Posted by Emily Elizabeth on January 23, 2006, at 22:21:44
In reply to Anxiety? about teaching--please help!!!!, posted by Lucia Francisca on January 22, 2006, at 13:42:26
Strangely, although I am a *very* anxious person, teaching is usually a place where I feel confident--go figure! I think that one reason that I do well teaching is that I think of it like acting. I am not EE, but I am INSTRUCTOR EE, a very different person! Separating those things out can really help me.
Make sure to include lots of non-lecture stuff in your class. Video, discussion, projects, etc. I find that it not only sucks the students in to the topic (which automatically makes for a better class) but it allows you to have a stress-free period of time during the class. I've found that if I'm a little off my game at the beginning of a class, doing an activity in the middle can bring down my stress level and allow me to regroup for the end of the class.
Remind yourself that even if you are a sucky instructor, you are probably better than most profs w/ tenure. :) At least where I am (a big state univ) the profs could care less abt their teaching. The students have responded really well to me b/c they know that I really care about them and their learning. And even though I don't know as much as folks who have had their PhD's for 30yrs, I work to present what I do know in an interesting way.
Finally, I've never tried it, but beta blockers are supposed to be useful meds for performance anxiety. You could talk to your pdoc if you think that might work for you.
Best of luck,
EE
poster:Emily Elizabeth
thread:601811
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/studs/20051123/msgs/602261.html