For many of my students the ultimate motivation is their grade. Immediate feedback is of course critical. When we don't give feedback within 72 hours I start getting calls and emails. But, I'd like to know if there are additional ways to integrate grade-based feedback into teaching. I mean, there are the traditional exams, quizzes, discussion points, papers, etc., but are there other creative methods that I'm missing? Gordon

Many of my courses are online. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with how we sense the need for REFOCUS in an online environment? Gordon

Retention is an interesting topic. As a long-time online instructor I am aware that retention is important. However, I rarely get any feedback relative to my role in retention or the schools actual retention metrics. I wonder if anyone has seen how the school includes an instructor in these types of topics? Gordon

I teach a couple of courses where it is apparent there are older online students and young (fresh out of high school) online students. In the training it suggests small cross-age teams to help integrate. I wonder if anyone has had success in organizing online teams to achieve this goal in a class? Gordon

I have found the 15 minute mini-lecture concept to be very useful in adult courses. The challenge I've had with several of those brief lectures though is that many of them run over. By focusing on a 15 minute lecture, the material seems to be more interesting to the students and I actually have a hard time staying on schedule. But, the interactivity that comes with the briefer lecture achieves the ultimate goals of helping people learn the materials.

I believe it is a good practice to make sure the syllabus is electronically available to the student prior to the start of the class. That way the student comes ready with some level of understanding of what the course is going to cover.

I like to have a very firm policy. I do not accept late work period. But, I do make an exception for "life situations" but to qualify, I must be chatted with in advance of the due date. Am I being too liberal?