Mario Reda Interview, By Connie Reda

Mario Reda Interview
By Connie Reda

Q: What kind of things do u do in advanced to prepare for your lecture

I deal with a body of knowledge, therefore the content of my course is always changing. I need to constantly update my material, read the newspaper . I want them to come out of my class being more knowledgeable and be better members of the community. MY goal is for them is to learn more about the society in which they hold membership and to see it clearly while they are members.

I use 3 sets of materials to do this.
On a daily basis we read a national newspaper such as the New York Times
I use classic research materials that have been gathered over time then I integrate the two into a class discussion. What comes out of all this is subsinitive material and current discussion that is lively and applicable to everyday living

Are you ever nervous? If so what do you do to get rid of this nervousness?

No.

Do you have nothing to tell children what to do to overcome nervousness
You overcome-nervousness by having good material and rehearsing it.

Do you ever rehearse your lectures?
I have been teaching for a while now and rehearse all my lectures in the car drive to school.

How do u keep your train of thought?

Certain materials call for an immediate set of ideas. I simply bring my materials and the though process moves on. My train of though changes with student’s ideas. Sometimes students bring up certain ideas and the lecture moves in that direction and I let it

How, and how often do u incorporate visuals into your lecture?

All the time. After you teach for a while you have a set of pictures transparencies and short parts of films that teach ideas. I’m not making one lecture, I’m making … 3 months of ideas. Sometime I go to the textbook sometimes I use the newspaper everyday sometimes I bring in movies. And everyday I bring in my book to keep the course on target



What if you forget something, or mess up in some way, how do you get over it?
If I mess up I just admit to it and go on to a new point in the class. I acknowledge it and just go on to a new point.

What are some really embarrassing moments u have had while teaching?
There are plenty of embarrassing moments, u laugh at it and move on. I cannot think of anything specific but there are plenty you just need to move on.